Mumbai, August 21: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has targeted the previous West Bengal government regarding border security and the delay in providing land to the Border Security Force (BSF) during an event in Siliguri. He stated that the central government had consistently requested land for the BSF, but these demands were not met.
Addressing personnel from the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Shah highlighted that after the new government took office in the state, Suvendu Adhikari had made 1,129 acres of land available to the BSF and SSB within just 45 days. He emphasized that this swift action was not due to the BJP being in power but rather a serious commitment to border security.
Shah asserted that until infiltration is effectively controlled, both West Bengal and India cannot be considered completely secure. He underscored the crucial role of security forces stationed at the border, stating that robust border management is essential for national security.
The Home Minister recalled a previous visit to then-Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s office, where he explained that the requested land was for the BSF, not for the BJP. Despite this clarification, Banerjee did not allocate the land, hindering their operations.
Amit Shah is also set to lay the foundation stone for the administrative building of the BSF’s frontier headquarters in Siliguri. Additionally, an e-foundation stone program is proposed for residential and non-residential projects related to the 12th and 19th battalions of the BSF in Jalpaiguri. Preparations for these initiatives are currently underway.
During the event, Shah referenced the recent Independence Day celebrations and the complete rendition of ‘Vande Mataram.’ He noted that since 2015, he has consistently participated in the flag-hoisting ceremony at the Red Fort alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This year’s Independence Day was particularly special for him, as the complete singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ was heard across the nation and the world, marking the 150th anniversary and the 80th year of independence.
He described Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s work as inspirational for the freedom movement. Shah expressed his long-standing disappointment that this song has not been fully embraced since independence, despite its role in energizing the freedom struggle and shaping the country’s future vision.
Shah also paid tribute to the legendary shehnai player Ustad Bismillah Khan, recounting how Khan once shared that his most joyful moments came from playing the shehnai by the Ganges in the presence of Kashi Vishwanath.
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