Araria, Feb 26: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday exuded confidence that the BJP will win the upcoming assembly polls in West Bengal, and drive out every single infiltrator from the state, which was among the ones worst affected by demographic change.
Shah said this in Araria district of Bihar, where he launched projects worth Rs 175 crore of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and dedicated to the nation a couple of new border outposts.
It is the top priority of the BJP government to drive out every single infiltrator from the country, who are not just a threat to national security, but also feed on welfare benefits meant for people, thereby diluting the impact schemes run by the government could make, he said.
“Infiltration on a large scale also results in encroachments in bordering areas. We are committed to demolishing these. Infiltration also poses the threat of demographic change, which can wreak havoc with the culture, and even geography, of a region,” Shah said.
The Narendra Modi government at the Centre has decided to set up a high-powered committee to study and undo demographic change by identifying the most vulnerable areas, the Union home minister said.
“Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal are the states worst affected by demographic change. West Bengal goes to polls soon. We are confident that the BJP will win the elections. And, it is the top priority of every BJP government to drive out infiltrators,” he asserted.
The BJP, which had been a marginal power in West Bengal until a decade ago, has over the years expanded its footprint and emerged as the principal challenger to the Trinamool Congress headed by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who seeks a fourth consecutive term in office.
The elections to the 294-member assembly in West Bengal are likely to be held in March-April.
“The beginning of the crackdown on infiltrators, though, will be made in this Seemanchal region of Bihar, where I had the chance to stay for four days during the assembly elections held a few months ago. I thank the people of the state for their resounding mandate to the NDA,” Shah said.
The BJP had contested the polls on the issue of infiltration, notwithstanding the criticism from the opponents, he said.
“Flushing out infiltrators is as much a part of our agenda in Bihar as the welfare of people. I promise to the people of the state and the entire country that every single infiltrator would be driven out before we next approach them for a fresh mandate,” Shah said.
The SSB has an important role to play in checking infiltration, he noted.
Responding to Shah’s statement, opposition parties alleged that it was tantamount to “targeting Muslims” ahead of the polls in West Bengal where the minority community has a sizeable population.
“We always knew that the Home Minister had West Bengal polls in mind while touring Seemanchal. But he must not defame the people of the state, who remained loyal towards India during the traumatising Partition, by branding them as infiltrators,” said AIMIM state president and MLA Akhtarul Iman.
CPI(ML) Liberation MLA Sandeep Saurav said, “Why is Amit Shah still whining about infiltration when not a single infiltrator could be traced in the mammoth SIR? He just wants to insult Muslims”.
Shah also said at the Araria function that guarding the borders is easy where proper fencing is in place and relations with the neighbouring country are friendly. However, a different approach is needed when the boundary is porous, he said.
“I would, therefore, urge top officials of the SSB and other agencies concerned to sit together and prepare an SOP for such areas. It is essential that our jawans manning the borders maintain good relations with the inhabitants of villages situated along the borders. Their feedback would come in handy to check smuggling and narcotics trade.” Shah said.
The jawans should also have cordial relations with security personnel deployed across the border, the Union home minister said.
“The central government is also committed to the welfare of our jawans and their families. Schemes like CAPF Awas Yojana and CAPF Ayushman health insurance, besides scholarships for dependent family members, are in place. Ex gratia for those who suffer disabilities in the course of discharge of duties has also been hiked,” he said.
Shah, who spoke in the presence of Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, began his speech by paying tributes to freedom fighter and Hindutva icon Vinayak Damodar Sawarkar on his death anniversary.
“Veer Savarkar was not just a fearless patriot, but also a brilliant writer, who was at ease both in poetry and prose. It was his work that made people view the Revolt of 1857 as not a mere mutiny but the country’s first war of Independence. He attacked social evils like untouchability and worked towards fostering nationalism till his death. I offer him my tributes on behalf of the nation,” he added.
