Picture : Twitter / ANI
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has criticised the Centre’s move to extend the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force, alleging that it is an attempt to interfere into the federal structure of the country.
The BJP-led central government had amended the BSF Act to authorise the force to undertake search, seizure and arrest within a larger 50 km stretch, instead of 15 km, from the international border in Punjab, West Bengal and Assam.
Just like Punjab, we’re also protesting against BSF’s jurisdiction that has been recently increased. Our border areas are completely peaceful. Law & order is a Police subject. It’ll create disturbance. State govt will go with state laws, said West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in Siliguri as reported by ANI
Banerjee, however, said the state has no problems in the border areas.
“About the BSF matter, we have sent a letter protesting the move. Earlier, they had jurisdiction of 15 km, there were incidents of firing in Balurghat or Cooch Behar. Now, they extended it to 50 km. This is an attempt to interfere into the federal structure of the country,” Banerjee said at an administrative review meeting at the state secretariat.
“We do not have problems in the border areas and share very cordial relations (with neighbouring countries). There is no need to create this confusion. Law and order is a state subject. BSF must look after what they are responsible for and we will have total support for that,” she said.
West Bengal shares an international border with Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan.
