GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma called for a BJP-led government in West Bengal similar to those in Assam and Tripura, arguing it would enable united action against Bangladeshi infiltrators.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a program, CM Sarma stressed that the BJP governments in Assam and Tripura have fostered coordinated development and robust border management. However, he lamented the lack of a like-minded government in West Bengal, which he said hinders regional efforts to curb illegal infiltration from Bangladesh. “We need a similar government like Assam and Tripura in West Bengal to unitedly fight against Bangladeshi infiltrators,” CM Sarma declared.
The remarks underscore escalating concerns over cross-border migration amid tensions following Bangladesh’s political upheaval last year. But unlike in Assam and Tripura, the Mamta Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal openly supported infiltration for its appeasement politics. CM Sarma highlighted how BJP-ruled states in the Northeast have strengthened security protocols, including enhanced surveillance and deportation drives, which could extend seamlessly if the BJP wins West Bengal’s upcoming elections.
In a separate broadside, CM Sarma launched a scathing attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her conduct during recent Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids in Kolkata. He accused her of storming a crime scene, removing files, hurling foul language at Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and obstructing investigators.
Describing the episode as “sad” and “too much,” CM Sarma warned that such behaviour from a sitting chief minister erodes public respect entirely. “I do not wish to comment further on the matter,” he added, signalling restraint amid the charged political rhetoric.
CM Sarma’s comments come as the BJP intensifies its campaign in West Bengal, positioning itself as a bulwark against infiltration and lapses in governance under the Trinamool Congress (TMC). Banerjee has repeatedly denied infiltration allegations, accusing the Centre of political vendetta through agencies like the ED.
Political analysts view CM Sarma’s intervention as a strategic push to rally Northeast voters and Bengali Hindus, who are wary of demographic shifts and of continuous infiltration from Bangladesh. With border states sharing over 4,000 km of frontier with Bangladesh, unified governance could reshape security dynamics.
The Assam CM’s advocacy highlights the BJP’s broader Northeast agenda, blending security, development, and electoral mobilisation.
