Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday launched a blistering attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her government of obstructing the construction of Indo–Bangladesh border fencing and failing to act against infiltration in the state.
Addressing a press conference in Kolkata, Shah said the Trinamool Congress government had refused to provide land required for completing international border fencing. “I want to ask Mamata Banerjee which government refuses to spare land for international border fencing. If she cannot answer, I will. It is her government that has stopped the completion of fencing along the Indo–Bangladesh border,” the leader said.
Raising concerns over illegal infiltration, the Home Minister asked, “When infiltrators enter the country, where do they go? They settle in villages of West Bengal. What are the state police doing? Why are infiltrators not being arrested?”
Expressing confidence about the party’s prospects, Shah said it would form the government in West Bengal in 2026 with a clear majority. “I say this with complete certainty. The BJP will form the government in Bengal in 2026,” the leader asserted, pointing to the party’s steady electoral growth in the state over the past decade.
Detailing the BJP’s rise, the second in command of BJP said the party had secured 17 per cent of the vote share and two Lok Sabha seats in 2014, followed by 10 per cent votes and three Assembly seats in 2016. “In 2019, our vote share rose to 41 per cent with 18 Lok Sabha seats, and in 2021 we won 77 Assembly seats with nearly 38 per cent votes. This is unprecedented growth for a party that once had just three MLAs,” he said.
Drawing a contrast with other parties, he added, “The Congress, which originated from Bengal, has been reduced to zero in the state, while the Left Front, which ruled for 34 years, has been decimated. Today, the BJP is the principal opposition, with Suvendu Adhikari as the Leader of the Opposition.”
The BJP leader also questioned Mamata Banerjee’s claims of clean governance, citing corruption allegations against TMC leaders. “Can Mamata Banerjee explain why ₹27 crore was recovered from the house of her minister? Why have so many of her ministers and leaders gone to jail, even as she claims there is no corruption?” he asked.
Alleging widespread misgovernance, the BJP said West Bengal had witnessed fear, corruption and administrative failure over the past 15 years. “Infiltration has created a deep sense of insecurity and anxiety among the people,” the leader said.
Outlining the party’s vision, he said, “From April 15 onwards, once a BJP government is formed in Bengal, we will begin restoring the state’s pride, culture and spirit of renaissance. We will work to build a Bengal envisioned by Swami Vivekananda, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Rabindranath Tagore and Shyama Prasad Mukherjee.”
He concluded by alleging that corruption under the Mamata Banerjee-led government had stalled development in the state. “West Bengal’s progress has come to a standstill due to rampant corruption. The people now want decisive and accountable governance,” he said.
