Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], January 5: West Bengal Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari has strongly criticized Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for shifting the blame onto the Border Security Force (BSF) regarding infiltration in the state. Adhikari accused Banerjee of engaging in “low-level politics” by holding the BSF responsible for the recent infiltration activities in West Bengal, stressing that the security forces serve the nation, not the government.
“The security forces serve the nation, not the government. They are the protectors of the nation. The way you have blamed our soldiers for the infiltration happening in West Bengal in the last few days shows the lowest level of your politics,” Adhikari wrote in a letter.
Banerjee, on Thursday, alleged that the BSF was facilitating militants and infiltrators from Bangladesh into the state, claiming it had caused disruptions in the region.
In response, Adhikari termed the Chief Minister’s comments an insult to the security forces. “Allegations and counter-allegations occur in politics, but dragging security forces into it, insulting them, and passing the buck for your failures to them is substandard politics. This is an insult to the 75,000 CAPFS personnel, 33,000 BSF personnel in Bengal, and all soldiers of the nation,” he said. He expressed deep sorrow over the perceived disrespect towards soldiers, highlighting their sacrifices to protect the borders of the nation under extreme conditions.
Adhikari further pointed out that the geographical challenges along the country’s borders—such as inaccessible forests, swollen rivers, and snow-covered mountains—are often exploited by infiltrators. He questioned how these infiltrators obtain identity and ration cards, suggesting negligence from the state government’s officials.
“When these infiltrators arrive in villages, why do patwaris issue them identity cards? How do they get ration cards? How do police and other officials verify them as bona fide citizens?” he asked, accusing the state government of failing to cooperate with the BSF on border-related matters.
Earlier, Banerjee had claimed that the BSF allowed individuals to cross into India from regions like Islampur, Sitai, and Chopra, and insinuated that the central government was involved in this alleged “blueprint.”