In a veiled reference to the BSF, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday warned against what she called “high-handedness” at the India-Bangladesh border and condemned alleged instances of Indian nationals being pushed into the neighbouring country.
Addressing an administrative meeting in Cooch Behar, the CM said, “Indian citizens are being sent to Bangladesh. I will tell the state police not to be scared. Be a little proactive. There should be emphasis on naka operations.”
Referring to alleged harassment of residents, Banerjee said, “Cooch Behar is a border district. Law and order must be maintained at the border. No high-handedness will be tolerated. One is not a Bangladeshi if they speak Bengali. Bangladesh is a country and West Bengal is a state. Many people in Uttar Pradesh speak Urdu. Pakistanis also speak Urdu. There is a Punjab in Pakistan also. So is there a Punjab in India. Residents on both sides speak Punjabi. Residents of Bengal are being harassed.”
Earlier in Kolkata, before leaving for North Bengal, Banerjee criticised the BJP over a reference to Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay as “Bankimada” in Parliament during a discussion on Vande Mataram. She said, “Whatever you think, you do. Even earlier, it was announced in the Rajya Sabha that ‘Jai Hind’, ‘Vande Mataram’ will not go on. I heard yesterday they do not like Netaji, Gandhiji, Rammohan! Do you know the history of the country? Do they (BJP) know the contribution of Bengal?”
At the meeting in Cooch Behar, CM Banerjee said no agency from another state can arrest anyone in West Bengal without following procedure. “If anyone is named as accused (in a case), it should be investigated. Some people from Assam were sent notices under foreign laws,” she said.
She added that patrolling on police vans had reduced. “Earlier, a police van used to patrol an area three or four times. Can’t see this now. It’s not right. Patrolling should be done at night and day.”
Banerjee urged all departments to cooperate with booth level officers (BLOs) during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and instructed the district magistrates to ensure proper inclusion of names. “Many names are not being included properly. Many people are married outside (Bengal). There are also issues faced by migrant workers,” she said.
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She advised the residents to carry necessary documents when called for SIR hearings.
“Already 41 people, including three BLOs, have died in the state. People also died during the SIR in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Kerala as well. Earlier the SIR was completed in two years. Now it is being completed within two months. How can it be possible? They (BJP) are doing whatever they want,” she said.
Atri Mitra is a highly accomplished Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, bringing over 20 years of experience to his reporting. His work is characterized by deep regional knowledge and a focus on critical administrative and political developments, establishing strong Expertise and Authority in his domain.
Experience
Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express.
Decades of Experience: Over two decades of extensive reporting experience, primarily covering administration and political news.
Geographical Focus: Holds significant reporting experience from West Bengal, Bihar, and the North-East, providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political landscape in these regions.
Key Coverage: Has dedicated more than ten years to covering administration and political news, with a keen focus on political developments in West Bengal.
Electoral Reporting: Demonstrated a commitment to crucial political moments, having covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections during his time at Anandabazar Patrika, and the 2019 Bihar Lok Sabha election while working with News18-Bangla.
Career Foundation: Began his career at the leading vernacular daily Anandabazar Patrika, where he worked for more than fifteen years, including a three-year stint as the Bihar correspondent.
Education
Advanced Degree: Holds a Master's degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University, providing an analytical framework for his political and administrative reporting.
Undergraduate Education: Holds a Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University.
Prestigious Alumni: His educational background includes attending esteemed institutions: he is an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur.
Atri Mitra's decades of dedicated reporting, substantial focus on political and administrative beats, and solid academic credentials make him a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis from Eastern and North-Eastern India. ... Read More
