Tough to stop infiltration without state govt support: Amit Shah in West Bengal

It is difficult to stop infiltration and smuggling without the help of the local administration, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Thursday, indicating lack of cooperation of the Trinamool Congress-led Mamata Banerjee government. He also reiterated that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will be implemented once the Covid-19 pandemic is over.

"Trinamool Congress is spreading fear about CAA but we will implement it once the Covid-19 pandemic is over. Mamata Banerjee, you want infiltration to continue and want CAA not to get implemented," Shah challenged Banerjee in a public rally in Siliguri. Coming down heavily on Mamata's government, Shah raised questions about law and situation in Bengal.

Earlier in the day, speaking at a BSF event, Shah said, "It is not possible to stop infiltration and smuggling without the help of the local administrations, however, the political situation in the state will change and local authorities will extend all help."


Furious about Shah's comment, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, "It is your duty to check cow smuggling and infiltration. You must control the situation."

Shah, who is on a two-day visit to West Bengal, on Thursday attended the 'Seema Prahari Sammelan' at Haridaspur BOP (border outpost) on the Indo-Bangladesh border. He inaugurated the Narmada, Sutlej and Kaveri floating border posts to protect the inaccessible areas of the Sundarbans on the Indo-Bangladesh border. Shah also flagged off a boat ambulance at a floating border outpost at Haridaspur.

On Friday, he will visit the India-Bangladesh border area of Teen Bigha, where he is scheduled to interact with BSF personnel.