Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday accused the former West Bengal government led by Mamata Banerjee of delaying the handover of land required to complete fencing along the India-Bangladesh border. Shah alleged that repeated requests were made to the state administration to provide the land, arguing that the fencing was necessary for India's national security. He made the remarks during an event at the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) North Bengal Frontier headquarters in Siliguri.

Shah said the Centre had repeatedly approached Banerjee's government over the issue but claimed that the required land was not handed over. Recalling one such interaction, the Home Minister said he had personally visited Banerjee's office and requested that the land be provided for border security rather than for any political purpose. "Please give the land for India's security. It is not for the BJP," Shah quoted himself as telling Banerjee. He alleged that although she agreed at the time, the land was not ultimately handed over during her tenure.

The Home Minister said the delay had affected efforts to strengthen security along the India-Bangladesh border. Border fencing is a key component of India's strategy to regulate movement across the international boundary and address security concerns. The Centre has been working with state governments on issues involving land acquisition and other infrastructure requirements in border areas, where terrain and local administrative processes can affect the pace of construction.

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Shah arrived in West Bengal late Thursday evening for a two-day visit during which he inaugurated several projects linked to border security. The initiatives also focus on strengthening infrastructure used by the SSB and the Border Security Force (BSF), which are responsible for guarding India's international borders in different sectors. His visit comes amid continued attention on border management and the need to improve infrastructure for security personnel operating in strategically important areas.

During his address, Shah also sought to contrast the alleged approach of the previous West Bengal administration with that of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. He said Adhikari had often responded positively to requests from the Union Home Ministry following telephone conversations. Shah presented this as an example of the difference between the two administrations in dealing with matters related to national security and border infrastructure.

The remarks marked another sharp political attack by Shah on Banerjee and her administration over the management of border-related issues in West Bengal. The India-Bangladesh border runs through several districts of the state, making West Bengal an important part of India's overall border security framework. The Centre has repeatedly emphasised fencing and improved infrastructure as measures to strengthen surveillance and control along the frontier.

Shah's comments focused specifically on the alleged delay in making land available for fencing and the impact he said it had on national security efforts. While the Home Minister accused the previous state administration of failing to act despite repeated requests, his remarks were also part of a broader political comparison between the former government and the current administration. The issue of border fencing remains closely linked to wider debates over security, migration and coordination between the Centre and state governments in West Bengal.

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