Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday hit out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the Baruipur warehouse fire incident, alleging that she was trying to cover up the tragedy that left at least 27 people dead and several missing in its wake.
Addressing a BJP workers’ meeting in Barrackpore in North 24 Parganas district, Shah questioned why the owner of Wow! Momo, the fast-food chain which operated a unit in the warehouse complex in Baruipur of South 24 Parganas district, has not yet been arrested.
The fire, he alleged, was not an accident but a result of institutionalised corruption and criminal negligence of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in West Bengal.
“Who is the momo factory owner close to? With whom did he go abroad? Till now, why has he not been arrested? I want to ask if these (victims) were infiltrators, would her (Mamata Banerjee) reaction be the same? After 32 hours, the fire minister visited the spot… There was no NOC (no-objection certificate), godowns were built on wetlands…Why was the godown locked? People were burnt alive. She wants to cover up, but once we come to power in April, we will look into the matter.”
The Union minister also raised the infiltration issue, terming it a cause of national concern. Welcoming the Calcutta High Court’s recent order directing the state government to hand over land in nine districts to the Border Security Force (BSF) by March 31 for fencing along the India-Bangladesh border, he said, “Mamata didi says the Centre has to do this (stop infiltration). We had said we are not being given land for the fencing… infiltrators are not stopped by her police, and here people make fake documents and send them all over the country. I am happy that the Calcutta High Court has said the BSF should be given land. The High Court has accepted that Mamata Banerjee is not cooperating in giving land, and she has no interest in stopping infiltration. This is a big blow to her.”
“I have doubts that Mamata Banerjee will give land to the BSF even after the High Court’s order. She won’t give it because those infiltrators are her vote bank. But whether she gives land by March 31 or not, the BJP’s CM will complete the fencing within 35 days (of forming government in the state).”
Criticising the state government over alleged scams, Shah said corruption had become institutionalised during Mamata Banerjee’s tenure. “Scams worth thousands of crores of rupees have happened, which she (Mamata Banerjee) is unable to see. She can’t see, as she only wants to make her blue-eyed nephew the CM.”
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He named several TMC leaders who had gone to jail and challenged Mamata Banerjee to deny tickets to tainted leaders if she truly stood against corruption.
Shah also accused the TMC government of diverting Central funds meant for development. “The Prime Minister has given nearly Rs 10 lakh crore to Bengal and introduced new trains, but none of this has reached the villages. The money has gone into the hands of the TMC syndicate,” he said, promising an end to “cut-money culture” once the BJP forms government.
The Union minister also criticised the state government over its record on women safety, saying that winning the 2026 Assembly elections would be an appropriate tribute to the thousands of BJP workers who lost their lives to alleged political violence.
Reached out to Matua, Namasudra voters
Assuaging the concerns of the Matua and Namasudra communities over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state, Shah said, “Mamata is scaring Matuas and Namasudras. I am saying they need not be in fear; she cannot touch their votes, and she can protest against the SIR as much as she wants, but the SIR will go on. Infiltrators have to be thrown out, and those (infiltrators) who will still remain, they will be thrown out by the BJP CM.”
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“West Bengal has seen red and green governments. Now it is time to give an opportunity to the kesariya (saffron) BJP government for a secure, corruption-free, and developed Bengal,” he concluded.
Tanusree Bose is a dedicated journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Kolkata. Her work focuses sharply on the complex administrative, political, and judicial developments across West Bengal, establishing her as an authoritative voice in regional news coverage.
Experience
Current Role: Reports for the prestigious national daily, The Indian Express, providing her content with a high level of Trustworthiness.
Geographical Expertise: Provides focused, in-depth coverage of West Bengal, demonstrating an intimate knowledge of the state's news and political nuances.
Core Authority: Her reporting portfolio highlights deep Expertise in crucial, often sensitive, beats, including:
State Politics and Governance: Covering the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), opposition strategies (BJP), and internal political controversies.
Judicial and Administrative Affairs: Closely monitoring key developments in the Calcutta High Court, particularly major rulings related to employment, education, and social issues.
Education Sector: Extensive reporting on significant controversies, such as teacher recruitment irregularities and administrative actions by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE).
Social & Electoral Issues: Covering public events, community tensions (e.g., religious/political gatherings), and election-related processes like the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll.
Tanusree Bose's consistent output and focus on high-stakes regional issues for a trusted media outlet underscore her status as a reliable and authoritative source for news from West Bengal. ... Read More
