The West Bengal BJP lashed out at the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in West Bengal after its MLA made “inappropriate” remarks against the BSF (Border Security Force) while a resolution against the Central government’s order of extending the jurisdiction of the BSF was being passed in the West Bengal Assembly.
During the discussion on the resolution in the Bengal assembly, a TMC’s Dinhata MLA Udayan Guha had reportedly said, “A child living in a border area in Bengal can never be patriotic if he witnesses his mother being inappropriately touched under the garb of body search by the BSF.”
This remark received immense criticism both inside and outside the house by the opposition MLAs who demanded that his remark be expunged from the records of the house. But the West Bengal assembly speaker, Biman Banerjee refused to heed to the demands of the opposition leaders of expunging Guha’s remarks from the official remarks of the assembly.
Addressing the media, West Bengal assembly’s Leader of the Opposition and senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari lashed out at the TMC for supporting its MLA for such “inappropriate” and “unparliamentary” remarks against one of the prestigious forces of the country.
He said, “The way in which a TMC MLA today made remarks about the BSF inside the house, we are falling short of words to criticise such a poor mentality of the MLA. Through his remarks the MLA has insulted the women of Bengal, he has insulted the martyred BSF Jawans. BSF is our pride, they are respectful individuals who are here to protect our borders. The decision made by the Central government is to protect the interest of our country, to protect us from illegal immigrants, smugglers and terrorists.”
Adhikari further told media personnel that to honour the BSF jawans and all the BSF officers serving in Bengal, he would lead a delegation of BJP MLAs to the BSF office on 18 November and offer them flowers and sweets.
“In a strong protest against Guha’s statement and to honour the BSF Jawans we will go to the BSF office in Bengal on 18 November and hand them over lotus flowers, the same flower with which Lord Ram had offered his Puja and along with this we will also offer them Rossogula and sweets.” Adhikari Said.
West Bengal parliamentary affairs minister Partha Chatterjee moved the resolution in the West Bengal assembly against the Central’s government’s order to extend BSF’s jurisdiction in the bordering states under rule 169 of the Procedures of Conduct of Business of the House. While moving the resolution, Chatterjee said, “We demand that this decision be withdrawn immediately as enhancing the area of jurisdiction of the BSF is a direct attack on the country’s federal structure.”
The Mamata Banerjee government has been fiercely criticising the Central Government’s order which has increased the jurisdiction of the BSF along the international borders calling it a “deliberate attempt by the centre to interfere in the federal structure of the constitution”. The Central government’s order has increased the BSF’s jurisdiction of frisking and detaining individuals in the bordering districts from 15 km to 50 km in October this year.
TMC MLAs were vocal on this issue in Assembly on Tuesday and Partha Chatterjee, the parliamentary leader of the Legislative Assembly, claimed that the BSF was gradually increasing its power even in non-border areas. ISF MLA Nowshad Siddiqui did not vote. The state government proposal tabled on Tuesday said that the Centre’s decision to expand the BSF’s jurisdiction is a blow to the federal structure. TMC MLAs, including Udayan Guha and Tapas Roy, were vocal on this issue in the Assembly.
Speaking to reporters, Parth Chatterjee said, “The BSF area has been increased from 15 to 50 kilometers to monitor the state border without any discussion with the state. We think it is the responsibility of the state to maintain law and order. Only the state police has the right to investigate any crime. It is stated in the seventh article of the Constitution.” Therefore, he claimed that the Centre’s notification violates the Constitution.
Chatterjee added: “It is the job of the BSF to ensure border protection. But they are gradually entering non-border areas. The role of the state police is being curtailed as a result of the increase in area,” he said, adding that if this is implemented, a total of 11 districts will come under the control of the border guards. Chatterjee said, “The lion’s share of North Bengal, 36 per cent of Bengal will be controlled by the central government.”
BJP leader Jayaprakash Majumder said, “Since the Trinamool Congress has majority in this Assembly, one day we may see them pass a resolution against India’s border security, one day they will pass a resolution against the Indian Army. They forget that it is not a matter of protection of West Bengal, it is a matter of protection of India. In this way, the Trinamool Congress is helping enemies and terrorists.”
A resolution similar to Bengal’s has already been passed in the Punjab Assembly. In a letter to the Chief Minister on Monday, Adhir Chowdhury, president of West Bengal Congress and Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, reminded her of this. Left Front chairman Biman Basu also wrote a letter to the Chief Minister on Monday, saying that the government should take legal action against handing over power to the BSF up to 50 km from the border.