Suvendu Adhikari celebrates Diwali with BSF personnel at the Hingalganj camp in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district. (Img: IANS)
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday apologised to the Border Security Force (BSF) over the alleged treatment meted out to the central armed force during the previous Trinamool Congress government, signalling a renewed push for coordination between the state administration and border security agencies.
Adhikari made the remarks during his Diwali visit to a BSF camp in Hingalganj, in North 24 Parganas district, where he celebrated the festival with personnel deployed along the India-Bangladesh border. He also accused the previous state government of failing to provide the land required for constructing border fencing, asserting that strengthening national security remained a priority for the BJP-led administration.
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The Chief Minister arrived at the Hingalganj BSF camp by helicopter from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata. Extending Diwali greetings on behalf of the West Bengal government, he expressed regret over the conduct of the previous Trinamool Congress administration towards the BSF.
Adhikari said he was apologising in his capacity as the Chief Minister for the alleged misconduct and inappropriate language directed at the BSF and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) during the previous government's tenure. Invoking the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, he emphasised the need to move beyond past disagreements and work towards a shared national objective.
He also referred to the public response to the previous government's conduct, suggesting that voters had delivered their verdict. The Chief Minister stressed that the focus should now be on strengthening national security, safeguarding the country's territorial integrity and ensuring effective coordination between the state government and central security forces.
A significant part of Adhikari's address focused on the long-standing issue of land availability for border fencing along the India-Bangladesh international boundary. He alleged that the previous Trinamool Congress government had not provided the necessary land despite repeated efforts by the Union government to facilitate the construction of fencing.
Border fencing is a critical component of India's border management strategy, particularly along the Bangladesh frontier, where security agencies face challenges involving illegal crossings, smuggling and other transnational security concerns. The availability of land and cooperation from state authorities are important factors in facilitating infrastructure development and strengthening surveillance along sensitive stretches of the international border.
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Adhikari maintained that the BJP government in West Bengal had undertaken substantial work towards improving border security within a short period of assuming office. He said coordination between the state administration and the BSF had improved, with a coordination meeting already having been held. He also assured personnel that the state government would continue working closely with the force in the coming days.
The visit marked Adhikari's first Diwali celebration with BSF personnel at a border camp in his capacity as West Bengal Chief Minister. He interacted with the jawans, exchanged festive greetings and distributed sweets as part of the celebrations, acknowledging the role of security personnel in protecting the country's borders while citizens celebrated the festival.
West Bengal Director General of Police Siddh Nath Gupta was also present during the Chief Minister's visit to the BSF camp.
Following the interaction, Adhikari visited a puja mandap located near the Hingalganj police station. From there, he was scheduled to return by helicopter to Kolkata Airport, taking off from the Hingalganj College grounds.
Later in the afternoon, the Chief Minister was scheduled to attend several Kali Puja celebrations in Nandigram, in East Midnapore district. His programme also included a visit to an event at the Nandigram police station.
Earlier on Sunday, Adhikari had celebrated Diwali with security personnel and police staff deployed at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata. He participated in the ceremonial lighting of lamps, exchanged festive greetings and distributed sweets among the personnel on duty.
The Chief Minister's engagements at the airport and the Hingalganj BSF camp brought frontline security personnel into the centre of the state's Diwali celebrations. His remarks at Hingalganj also underscored the new government's stated emphasis on closer cooperation with central forces and strengthening security infrastructure along West Bengal's international border.
