Guv, Mamata lock horns on BSF issue

New Delhi, December 9

West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday locked horns with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the issue of enhancing the jurisdiction of the BSF in the state. The CM, who raised the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi when she met him in Delhi last month, had recently asked the district administrations in two border districts of West Bengal to not allow BSF personnel in habitations without permission.

“The BSF is allowed 15 km inside the border, that too with the permission of the police, but they are going wherever they want. You all have seen what has happened in Nagaland. You have to be very careful. I don’t want any confrontation,” the CM was quoted to have said on Tuesday, while participating in an administrative meeting for the Uttar Dinajpur and Dakshin Dinajpur districts.

In a letter to the CM today, the Governor said her stance sent “disturbing signals” and were “potentially alarming for national security”. — TNS