Guwahati/Kolkata, Dec 31: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday backed Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s allegations of infiltration from Bangladesh through West Bengal, asserting that the concerns raised reflected the “factual position on the ground” and underscoring the need for stronger border management measures in the state.
Responding to Shah’s remarks made earlier in Kolkata, Sarma said states like Assam and Tripura had taken firm and coordinated steps to curb illegal infiltration, while West Bengal, according to him, was lagging behind in addressing the issue.
He emphasised that border security was a matter of national importance and welcomed the Home Minister’s proposal for a national grid to strengthen surveillance and coordination along sensitive border stretches.
“While Assam and Tripura are fighting infiltration with determination, Bengal appears to be opening its doors to infiltrators.
Strong action is required along the West Bengal–Bangladesh border,” Sarma said, adding that effective cooperation between the Centre and states was essential to address the challenge.
Earlier in the day, Amit Shah launched a sharp political attack on the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government, accusing it of allowing infiltration from Bangladesh for electoral considerations and describing it as a serious threat to national security.
He alleged that the West Bengal government was not providing land required for border fencing, thereby obstructing efforts to prevent illegal cross-border movement.
Questioning the state government’s role, Shah claimed that infiltration had been successfully checked in several other border states, including Tripura, Assam, Rajasthan, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and Gujarat.
He alleged that unchecked infiltration in West Bengal was contributing to demographic changes and influencing electoral outcomes.
Terming infiltration a major national security concern, the Union Home Minister said the issue would figure prominently in the run-up to the West Bengal Assembly elections scheduled for April 2026.
He also accused the Trinamool Congress government of fostering an environment marked by fear, corruption and misgovernance.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee strongly rejected the allegations, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party of spreading misinformation for political gain.
Dismissing claims that her government had failed to provide land for border fencing, Banerjee said the accusations were baseless and misleading.
“They say I did not give land. If I hadn’t given land, how would coal mining and other development have taken place in Bengal?” she asked, adding that infiltration was not an issue confined to West Bengal alone and required a broader, coordinated national approach rather than political blame games.
