Mamata Banerjee accuses Centre of laxity in manning international borders

KOLKATA: Drawing flak from BJP over the Burdwan blast and the alleged involvement of a Bangladesh-based terror group, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today accused the Centre of being lax in manning international borders.

"Those involved in the blast at Khagragarh had rented the house in July. How did they infiltrate? What were you (Centre) doing then? Why were they not prevented from producing (bomb-making) the materials?" Banerjee said at a party workers' meet here.

"Policing the border is the Centre's responsibility. Why did they not prevent them?" she said.

Cautioning that some blasts might be orchestrated and then the blame the state government for them, she told party workers "I am asking you to be cautious as by causing a blast, the blame could be put on the state government."

Banerjee's comments came close on the heels of BJP alleging that Burdwan blasts have shown that West Bengal has become a safe haven for terrorists.

She asked the party workers to report any untoward incident to the nearest police station and said "You should also report if there are any arms training."

She pointed to a senior minister in her government, Partha Chatterjee who had alleged "the administration has definite information that behind the route march and drill by people clad in khaki shorts, arms training is being given.

"We have also heard Durga Vahinis are being raised. Communal forces are being encouraged," Chatterjee had said on November 20.

"You are conducting arms training because you are a religious organisation and there is no harm in it. If they are called jihadis, why won't you be so?)" Banerjee said after BJP had alleged jihadi and anti-national elements had sneaked into Bengal.