Bengal became the second state after Punjab to pass resolution against what the ruling Trinamool Congress termed the BJP’s “ravenous intention to grab Bengal via backdoor” by expanding the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force to 50 km from the previous 15 km into the international border.
The House passed the resolution --- demanding the withdrawal of the notification by the Union Home Ministry extending the BSF’s area of functioning --- with 121 Trinamool Congress members supporting it. BJP’s 63 legislators opposed the resolution which said that the notification exceeded the provision of the BSF Act and that it would lead to coordination issues between the State police and the BSF.
Bengal Parliamentary Affairs Minister Partha Chatterjee moved the resolution under rule 169 of conduct of business of the House. Later he told the media persons that the Trinamool Congress Government would always stand against any attempt by the Centre to destroy the country’s federal principles.
He said, “in a federal structure the law and order is a State subject … the police are responsible for maintaining law and order … any decision to alter the status requires consent of the State Government … but in this case the State Governments were kept in the dark and the BSF was given additional area without consulting the State Governments… If the notification is implemented, then 11 districts and 37 % of territory of the State will pass under the hands of the Centre.”
He however said that the TMC had nothing against the BSF which did its duty in most patriotic manner. “We are protesting against the Centre’s move to usurp power through backdoor,” he said adding however that the State Government did not see it as a conspiracy against the State. He said “as the BJP could not grab power despite massive campaign … as they were defeated badly in Bengal … they are now trying to grab power by using the BSF which is controlled by the Centre.”
The other two opposition parties Left and Congress which do not have any representation in the State Assembly too supported the TMC on the issue. Earlier on Monday Left Front chairman Biman Bose, wrote a letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asking her to oppose New Delhi’s “anti-federal “move. He called the Centre’s notification an act that went against the federal structure. Pradesh Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury also opposed the notification.
State Opposing Leader Suvendu Adhikari however attacked the TMC leadership for “attacking the central para-military forces in most filthy manner… The BSF protects the country from the terrorists and foreign enemy so that we can sleep in peace but here this crooked Government and its leaders attacks the martyrrs using most unkind and filthy words against them,” he said.
“Some leaders even said that the BSF in the border misbehave with women and even touch them inappropriately … I wonder whether such words have been expunged …” the TMC-turned-BJP leader said adding he proposed an amendment seeking expansion of the BSF’s jurisdiction from 50 lm to 80 lm.
“I said that the BSF’s jurisdiction should be expanded to 80 kms and I will appeal to the Centre to consider the proposal seriously,” he said adding at a time when Rohingyas had entered the State and terrorists were mushrooming the BSF should be given added power.
