Land for India-Bangladesh Border Fencing Came Only After New Bengal Govt: Amit Shah
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday that India's safety cannot be guaranteed until its borders are fully secured. He was speaking at the frontier headquarters of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) in Siliguri, West Bengal, where he participated in the groundbreaking and foundation stone laying ceremonies for various SSB projects. Mr. Shah emphasised that a secure border is essential for both national security and the safety of the people of West Bengal.
Addressing the issue of land for border fencing, Mr. Shah said he had been requesting 1,129 acres of land from the West Bengal government since 2014 to strengthen fencing along the India-Bangladesh border. He stated that the previous government led by Mamata Banerjee did not respond to these requests. "My desperate pleas for land to set up border fences by the BSF fell on deaf ears," he said. He noted that the land was provided only after the government led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari came into office. He added that neither West Bengal nor India can be safe until the frontiers are secured.
Mr. Shah also commented on the absence of previous chief ministers at programmes of border security forces. He said no previous Chief Minister of the state had attended events organised by the SSB or the Border Security Force (BSF). He congratulated Mr. Adhikari for attending the programme, describing it as breaking the glass ceiling. He stressed that the SSB is not a political organisation, and that earlier chief ministers staying away from such events gave wrong signals about the importance of border security.
In his speech, the Home Minister also recalled the national song 'Vande Mataram'. He expressed regret that the complete version of the song had not been sung at official events since India's independence. He pointed out that during this year's Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort, the complete version was sung for the first time. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the song's composition by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. Mr. Shah said this recognition gave him solace.
The SSB is one of India's central armed police forces, primarily responsible for guarding the India-Nepal and India-Bhutan borders. Its Siliguri frontier headquarters is an important operational base. The India-Bangladesh border, which passes through West Bengal, is guarded by the BSF. The fencing along this border has been a long-standing requirement for preventing cross-border infiltration and illegal movement. The acquisition of land for fencing requires coordination between the central and state governments.
The event in Siliguri was attended by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and senior officials. The foundation stone laying ceremonies are part of the government's efforts to upgrade infrastructure for border guarding forces. The issue of land for border fencing has been a subject of discussion between the Centre and various state governments, as border security is a shared responsibility under India's federal structure.
