Raiganj (WB), Oct 29: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday warned against cow slaughter, vowed to deport infiltrators to Bangladesh and ordered a crackdown on illegal madrasas in border areas, asserting that anti-national activities would not be tolerated.
He also set November 30 as the deadline for completing hearings on 9,000 citizenship applications filed under the CAA by Hindu refugees in Uttar Dinajpur district, which shares a border with Bangladesh.
In his first visit to Uttar Dinajpur district since assuming office as chief minister, Adhikari delivered a series of politically charged messages at an administrative meeting and a public rally in Raiganj, focusing on border security, citizenship for Hindu refugees, alleged land grabbing and what he described as threats from separatist groups.
Adhikari said he had instructed the district magistrate to ensure that the hearings on the pending Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) applications were completed by November 30, promising citizenship to Hindu refugees who had allegedly been driven out of Bangladesh because of their religious identity.
“I will give CAA certificates to refugees. I have told the district magistrate that there are 9,000 applications of people whom the Jamaatis drove out of Bangladesh solely because they are Hindus. We will grant them citizenship under the CAA. The hearings must be completed by November 30,” he said.
Uttar Dinajpur, which shares an international border with Bangladesh, has frequently figured in political debates over infiltration, citizenship and border management.
He also directed officials to ensure that eligible SC applicants received their caste certificates and that their names were included in the electoral rolls to be published in January.
Urging Hindu refugees who had not yet applied under the CAA to do so immediately, Adhikari invoked Union Home Minister Amit Shah, whom he described as the country’s “Iron Man”, saying the latter had entrusted him with the responsibility of issuing citizenship certificates.
“Not a single Hindu refugee from Bangladesh should remain in the Raiganj jail. The legal process must be completed quickly,” he said.
The CAA provides a pathway to Indian citizenship for eligible Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan who entered India on or before December 31, 2014, subject to the law’s conditions.
Turning to infiltration, Adhikari vowed to send those he described as illegal entrants back to Bangladesh, asking locals to assist the police and the BSF in identifying them.
“This district shares a border with Bangladesh. Land has been handed over to the BSF,” he said, adding that 7.9161 acres had been transferred to the border guarding force.
“Those who are infiltrators should be pushed out. Inform the police and the BSF. We will not keep them here. It will be straight back to the pavilion. They will be sent back along the route through which they came,” he said.
At the public meeting, Adhikari reiterated that infiltrators would first be placed in holding stations before being sent back to Bangladesh.
“We will throw back infiltrators to Bangladesh, put them at holding stations and then send them back,” he said.
The chief minister also directed police to ensure that no illegal madrasas operated in the border districts, linking the issue to national security.
“There will be no illegal madrasas. Anti-national activities will not be tolerated,” he said.
Taking aim at groups he accused of promoting separatist sentiments, Adhikari said those raising slogans such as “Kashmir Mange Azaadi” should not be allowed to operate in the border areas.
“Tukde-tukde gangs, cockroaches and other pests should not be allowed to multiply. It is your responsibility to ensure this,” he said, addressing the public.
He also warned against cow slaughter, invoking the religious significance of cattle among Hindus.
“No one should raise a hand against Gau Mata. No one should harm Gau Mata. I am making this clear. If it happens, no one will be worse than me,” Adhikari said.
In a politically significant intervention, Adhikari accused Chopra MLA Hamidul Rahman of land grabbing and directed the police to reopen all old cases against him.
The move comes days after Rahman, who had aligned himself with the rebel Trinamool Congress faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee, indicated that he wanted to return to the camp of TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee.
Rahman had earlier joined the breakaway faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee, who has been leading a rebellion against the Mamata Banerjee-led party leadership.
Without confining his allegations to the current political alignment, the chief minister accused successive Left and TMC governments of allowing the land of Adivasis and people belonging to the Sanatan Hindu community to be encroached upon.
He directed police to identify and recover such land, while describing the Chopra MLA as a “mafia” and a “goon”.
The directive to reopen old cases against Rahman signals a wider police and administrative push against alleged land grabbing in the politically sensitive border district.
Adhikari’s remarks also placed the spotlight on the political realignments within the TMC, with Rahman’s reported desire to return to the Mamata Banerjee camp coming amid the ongoing tussle between the party’s rival factions.
Adhikari sought to frame the measures on citizenship, infiltration and border security within his government’s ideological position, invoking Syama Prasad Mookerjee, the founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the precursor to the BJP.
“This government has been formed on the ideals of Syama Prasad Mookerjee. The nation comes first,” he said.
