BJP, TMC TRADE BARBS OVER BSF POWER

A day after the Trinamool government passed a resolution opposing the Centre’s decision to increase the BSF’s jurisdiction from 15 to 50 kilometers, a BJP delegation, led by Suvendu Adhikari, visited the BSF headquarters in Kolkata.

During their visit to the BSF’s South Bengal Frontier Headquarters in New Town on Thursday, the BJP MLAs greeted the BSF jawans with gifts and sweets.

According to the BJP, the purpose of the visit was to honour the BSF jawans for their bravery as they stand guard at the borders in trying circumstances, and do their best to protect the country.

While addressing the BSF personnel, Adhikari said, “The powers of BSF have been augmented. This is good news for Bengal. However, many have disrespected the Centre’s decision. That is why we have come to apologize to you.”

Speaking on the BJP’s visit, Trinamool spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said on Twitter, “Suvendu is going to the BSF camp and doing cheap drama. Before that, why did Gujarat Chief Minister Modi send a letter to then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2012 against the BSF’s rise to power? Why did Modi Ji say it hit the federal structure? Let the BJP stop the drama without answering it.”

Reacting to Ghosh’s comment, Adhikari told the BSF jawans, “We have not come as a political party. I have come here as an MLA. I came today to greet you with the good news that the area of your power has grown, and owing to that all the illegal activities will come to a halt. Some bad words have been used about BSF in the 16th assembly, I think it was a disgrace. That’s why I came here to apologize.”

“No one has the right to insult the BSF,” he added while hinting out at the TMC’s recent resolution.

The BSF’s jurisdiction at the border was recently extended from 15 km to 50 km.

According to the new guidelines of the Union Home Ministry, the BSF will be able to make arrests, searches, and seizures in areas up to 50 km from the international border in Punjab, Assam, and West Bengal into Indian territory.