Reacting to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s claims that her government was not informed of his two-day visit to the state in advance, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh Wednesday said the visit was part of his work “defined by the (Home) Ministry”. Singh had arrived in Bengal Tuesday and visited Chhit-Mahal (Indo-Bangladesh enclaves) in Cooch Behar and other bordering areas, prompting Mamata to question the move in a post on the social networking websites. “Today, union home minister has visited. along with BJP MPs. Is it official visit or political visit(?),” the CM had tweeted. Also Read: As Rajnath visits enclaves, Mamata questions motive The Home Minister also denied that there are any “differences” between him and Mamata. He told the media persons that he shares a “cordial” relationship with her. “I speak to her (Mamata) often. The people of the country should not be have any misconception,” Singh said while visiting a floating border outpost of Border Security Force on river Raimangal in North-24 Parganas district. [related-post] He added that he holds Mamata “in high esteem”. Singh also addressed the BSF jawans deployed along the Indo-Bangla border and asked them to put a “complete halt to the smuggling of cattle to Bangladesh. “I am told prices of beef in Bangladesh has gone up 30 per cent recently due to heightened vigil by BSF against cattle smuggling. You further intensify your vigil so that the cattle smuggling stops completely,” he said. According to official statistics around 17 lakh cattle were smuggled to Bangladesh from India in 2014. Later talking to reporters, the Home Minister said government had set up a committee a few months ago to check smuggling of cattle, drugs and fake Indian currency notes. “The committee has almost completed its work and will submit its report in the next 15-20 days,” he said. Singh said he would speak to chief ministers of those states from which the cattle are being transported to border for smuggling into Bangladesh.
