‘Asking from 2014’: Mamata didn’t give land for border fencing, says Amit Shah
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Atri Mitra
Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticized former West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee for obstructing border fencing by withholding land since 2014. Shah praised current CM Suvendu Adhikari for his cooperation while inaugurating infrastructure projects at the SSB headquarters in Siliguri.
Border Security and Political Tensions in West Bengal
Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently visited Siliguri, West Bengal, to inaugurate infrastructure projects at the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) Frontier Headquarters. During this visit, he addressed the critical intersection of national security and regional governance, specifically highlighting long-standing delays in securing the India-Bangladesh border. The Home Minister emphasized that the safety of the nation is inextricably linked to the security of its frontiers, a sentiment he underscored while addressing SSB personnel.
The Land Acquisition Dispute
A central point of contention raised by the Home Minister involves the acquisition of 1,129 acres of land. Shah alleged that since 2014, he had made repeated, desperate requests to then-Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to provide this land for the purpose of border fencing. According to Shah, these requests were met with inaction, which he argues hindered the Border Security Force (BSF) and the SSB from effectively sealing the border. This administrative stalemate has long been a point of friction between the Union and the West Bengal state government.
A Shift in State-Center Relations
The narrative surrounding this issue has shifted significantly with the change in the state's leadership. Shah explicitly contrasted the previous administration's reluctance with the cooperation of the current government led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. He noted that under the current administration, the necessary permissions for border infrastructure are processed efficiently, often with a single phone call. This shift suggests a more collaborative approach to federal-state security initiatives than what was observed during the previous decade.
Symbolism and Governance
Beyond the logistical challenges of land acquisition, the Home Minister criticized the symbolic distance maintained by previous leadership toward central paramilitary forces. Shah remarked that former Chief Ministers frequently avoided attending functions organized by forces like the SSB or the BSF, arguing that such absence sent the wrong signal regarding the importance of border security. By contrast, his participation in the 'Bara Khana' with SSB troops and his public praise for the current state leadership serve to reinforce the visibility of the central government’s security agenda in the region.
Implementation of New Criminal Laws
In addition to border security, the visit served as a platform to promote the government's legislative agenda. Shah visited an exhibition in Siliguri highlighting the three new criminal laws—the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam—which came into effect on July 1, 2024. These laws represent a significant overhaul of India's colonial-era legal framework, and the exhibition aimed to increase public and institutional awareness of these changes.
Future Implications for Border Management
The resolution of the land acquisition issue marks a critical turning point for border management in West Bengal. With the infrastructure projects now moving forward, the focus shifts to the practical implementation of physical barriers and surveillance technology along the border. The Home Minister's remarks suggest that the central government intends to prioritize the completion of these security projects, viewing the current political alignment in the state as a vital facilitator for national security objectives.