Land for border fencing not an issue, Centre must roll back BSF jurisdiction expansion rule: Mamata Banerjee

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said her government had no objection in providing land for border fencing, but insisted that the Centre must first roll back the “arbitrary” decision to expand the BSF’s jurisdiction in the state from 15 km to 50 km.

Speaking in the assembly, amid allegations the state government was not cooperating in providing land for fencing along the India-Bangladesh border, Banerjee asserted that land had already been allotted to all central organisations and agencies, including the BSF.

“Land will not be a problem. You will get land. But, first change the arbitrary rule of increasing BSF’s jurisdiction (area) from 15 km to 50 km,” she said during discussions on the governor’s address.

The chief minister also claimed that Home Minister Amit Shah, who recently alleged that the state was not providing land for border fencing, is not furnishing the full data of land given by the West Bengal government.