‘Did Centre Orchestrate Pahalgam, Delhi Attacks?’ Mamata Questions Amit Shah's Claim
Mamata Banerjee fires back at Amit Shah over terror claims.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a fierce counterattack against Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a public rally in Bankura district, questioning the central government's handling of national security. Responding to Shah's allegations that Bengal has become a safe haven for terrorist networks ahead of the 2026 assembly elections, Banerjee retorted by referencing recent attacks, asking if the Pahalgam incident in Jammu and Kashmir and another in Delhi were orchestrated by the Centre itself.
Drawing from the Mahabharata epic, Banerjee likened Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to antagonists Dushasana and Duryodhana, accusing them of political opportunism during election seasons. She highlighted Shah's ongoing three-day visit to the state and Modi's recent trip, suggesting their appearances coincide with electoral cycles to gather intelligence and spread narratives of instability in Bengal.
The exchange escalated over Shah's claims of infiltration and terror modules operating from West Bengal. Banerjee pointed to the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack by Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba affiliates, which claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists, and the November 10 car explosion near Delhi's Red Fort linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed funding, killing around 15 people, to challenge the narrative that terrorism is absent elsewhere.
Also Read: Amit Shah Directs BJP to Stay Alert on Electoral Roll Revision in Bengal
Banerjee further criticized the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging it constitutes a massive scam using artificial intelligence to harass citizens and potentially disenfranchise up to 1.5 crore voters. She claimed marginalized communities, including Rajbanshis, Matuas, and Adivasis, are being deliberately targeted to alter Bengal's demographic and electoral landscape.
This confrontation underscores deepening tensions between the Trinamool Congress-led state government and the BJP-ruled Centre, with security, infiltration, and voter rights emerging as key battlegrounds in the run-up to the crucial 2026 West Bengal polls.
Also Read: Amit Shah to Begin Three-Day West Bengal Visit to Strengthen BJP Ahead of 2026 Elections
