In a scathing attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s administration, BJP leader Shazia Ilmi has accused the state government of providing safe haven to illegal infiltrators. Speaking at a recent public rally in Kolkata, Ilmi claimed that under Mamata’s rule, the borders have become porous, allowing thousands of intruders to settle unchecked.
Ilmi pointed to recent intelligence reports and local eyewitness accounts that highlight a surge in cross-border migration from neighboring Bangladesh. ‘The Mamata government is not just turning a blind eye; they are actively shielding these infiltrators for vote-bank politics,’ she alleged, referencing demographic shifts in border districts like Murshidabad and Malda.
The BJP leader emphasized that this policy endangers national security and dilutes the cultural fabric of Bengal. She cited instances where local Hindus have been displaced from their lands, allegedly taken over by infiltrators with tacit government support. Ilmi demanded a CBI probe into the matter and called for strict implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the state.
Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) has repeatedly denied these charges, insisting that their welfare schemes benefit all residents regardless of origin. However, Ilmi dismissed this as ‘crocodile tears,’ urging the Election Commission to investigate voter list manipulations allegedly favoring infiltrators.
As tensions rise ahead of state elections, Ilmi’s remarks have sparked a fresh political row, with BJP cadres rallying behind her call to ‘save Bengal from infiltrators.’ The controversy underscores deepening divides over immigration, security, and identity in India’s eastern frontier.