The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Sunday strongly responded to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s comments accusing the West Bengal government of supporting illegal infiltration. The party reminded Shah that managing the country’s borders is the job of the Border Security Force (BSF), which works under the central government.
At a press conference in Kolkata, senior TMC leader and state minister Chandrima Bhattacharya called for Shah’s resignation. She blamed him for the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, where 26 people lost their lives.
"Who is responsible for stopping infiltration? Who heads the BSF? You are proving your incompetence. Amit Shah, you must resign. You didn't even have any intel regarding the Pahalgam attack. It is because of your negligence that 26 people lost their lives and you are yet to nab the accused terrorists," Bhattacharya said. She was joined by TMC MPs Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and Sagarika Ghose.
Bhattacharya also hit out at Shah’s repeated mention of infiltration in Bengal. She stressed that it is not the state’s duty to protect borders, but the BSF’s, which is under the Union Home Ministry. “If there are any issues, those should be resolved by the Centre, not blamed on the state,” she added.
The TMC’s comments came just hours after Shah, while speaking at a rally in Kolkata, accused Mamata Banerjee’s government of not helping the Centre to stop illegal immigration from Bangladesh. He also claimed the state was holding back land needed to build border fences.
In response, Ghosh Dastidar said, "Border management is the Centre's responsibility and the land required for fencing has already been given by West Bengal. But they have failed to fence it and keep a check on infiltration." She said Shah should take responsibility for the country’s worsening security.
"Trinamool Congress will come to power in West Bengal for the fourth consecutive time by bagging over 250 seats and Mamata Banerjee will be the CM again in 2026. Just wait and watch. If national security is being hampered, then it is the Home Minister who should resign," she added.
She also brought up the Pulwama attack in 2019, saying, “He is a total failure who could not prevent terrorists from entering the country and killing 26 tourists in Pahalgam. Even earlier in Pulwama (Pulwama attack 2019), the paramilitary had requested to be airlifted, and it was denied. This is on record. Our delegation went to Poonch and Rajouri and saw how insecure people feel in the border villages."
TMC MP Sagarika Ghose also criticised Shah’s remarks, saying he was acting like a party worker, not a constitutional authority.
"At a time when the All India Trinamool Congress is standing firmly with the Government of India, when our national general secretary is abroad on an MPs' delegation, speaking strongly for the country and against Pakistan-based terrorism, none other than the Home Minister comes to West Bengal and uses cheap language against our respected CM, Mamata Banerjee," she said.
She further said, "Amit Shah's politics is all about divide and rule. He talks about Hindus being persecuted in West Bengal, but he should look at the politics his party practices. BJP presided over the worst communal riots in Gujarat. We invite him to witness the celebration of Hinduism in West Bengal during Durga Puja. Recently, a Jagannath temple was inaugurated here, he should see that too."
Bhattacharya also criticised the Centre for not releasing MGNREGA funds.
"Why are you not releasing our MGNREGA funds? According to the MGNREGA Act, one-third of the jobs should go to women. Aren't you thinking about this? Don't you think you should take accountability for this failure?" she asked.
Inputs from agencies
At a press conference in Kolkata, senior TMC leader and state minister Chandrima Bhattacharya called for Shah’s resignation. She blamed him for the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, where 26 people lost their lives.
"Who is responsible for stopping infiltration? Who heads the BSF? You are proving your incompetence. Amit Shah, you must resign. You didn't even have any intel regarding the Pahalgam attack. It is because of your negligence that 26 people lost their lives and you are yet to nab the accused terrorists," Bhattacharya said. She was joined by TMC MPs Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and Sagarika Ghose.
Bhattacharya also hit out at Shah’s repeated mention of infiltration in Bengal. She stressed that it is not the state’s duty to protect borders, but the BSF’s, which is under the Union Home Ministry. “If there are any issues, those should be resolved by the Centre, not blamed on the state,” she added.
The TMC’s comments came just hours after Shah, while speaking at a rally in Kolkata, accused Mamata Banerjee’s government of not helping the Centre to stop illegal immigration from Bangladesh. He also claimed the state was holding back land needed to build border fences.
In response, Ghosh Dastidar said, "Border management is the Centre's responsibility and the land required for fencing has already been given by West Bengal. But they have failed to fence it and keep a check on infiltration." She said Shah should take responsibility for the country’s worsening security.
"Trinamool Congress will come to power in West Bengal for the fourth consecutive time by bagging over 250 seats and Mamata Banerjee will be the CM again in 2026. Just wait and watch. If national security is being hampered, then it is the Home Minister who should resign," she added.
She also brought up the Pulwama attack in 2019, saying, “He is a total failure who could not prevent terrorists from entering the country and killing 26 tourists in Pahalgam. Even earlier in Pulwama (Pulwama attack 2019), the paramilitary had requested to be airlifted, and it was denied. This is on record. Our delegation went to Poonch and Rajouri and saw how insecure people feel in the border villages."
TMC MP Sagarika Ghose also criticised Shah’s remarks, saying he was acting like a party worker, not a constitutional authority.
"At a time when the All India Trinamool Congress is standing firmly with the Government of India, when our national general secretary is abroad on an MPs' delegation, speaking strongly for the country and against Pakistan-based terrorism, none other than the Home Minister comes to West Bengal and uses cheap language against our respected CM, Mamata Banerjee," she said.
She further said, "Amit Shah's politics is all about divide and rule. He talks about Hindus being persecuted in West Bengal, but he should look at the politics his party practices. BJP presided over the worst communal riots in Gujarat. We invite him to witness the celebration of Hinduism in West Bengal during Durga Puja. Recently, a Jagannath temple was inaugurated here, he should see that too."
Bhattacharya also criticised the Centre for not releasing MGNREGA funds.
"Why are you not releasing our MGNREGA funds? According to the MGNREGA Act, one-third of the jobs should go to women. Aren't you thinking about this? Don't you think you should take accountability for this failure?" she asked.
Inputs from agencies
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