Three-layer security for India's 'Chicken's Neck': Amit Shah reveals Siliguri Corridor plan

Union Home Minister Amit Shah hit out at former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, saying that she had never attended events organised by the Union home ministry or the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) in the past, while current Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari gracefully accepted the invitation.

“We used to call the former CM to the SSB programmes, but she did not want to come. We called you, and you came. You are welcome. Whether it is the SSB or the BSF, it is not an agency belonging to any political party or government,” said Amit Shah.

“Irrespective of party policy, irrespective of government, all political parties, whether in Bengal or at the Centre, should maintain cordial relations with jawans, as they belong to the country.”

The home minister is on a three-day visit to Siliguri in West Bengal and will lay the foundation stone for an administrative building of the SSB in Siliguri on Friday and interact with jawans and senior officers.

“This is the first time any chief minister has been invited to join, and as the chief minister, I have the good fortune of being part of it,” said Suvendu Adhikari.

Shah also spoke about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to strengthen the Chicken’s Neck, or the Siliguri Corridor, which is a strategically sensitive area. “The Suvendu Adhikari government has provided 1,129 acres of land to the BSF in Bengal, and another 29 acres will be handed over shortly. We need to stop infiltration. We wanted to fence the entire border, but Mamata ji never gave us land. I even once went to her office for this. She agreed but never gave us the land,” added Shah.

He also spoke about the West Bengal government’s cooperation in taking forward border-fencing measures.

“I want to praise Suvendu Adhikari. Ever since he came to power, when the home ministry needs anything for border security, we just phone him and the letter goes later, but permission is granted first,” explained Shah.

Adhikari expressed support for the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, stating that the biggest work will be done in West Bengal.

The Union home minister said three layers of security are being established in Siliguri. He said the Centre has also strengthened its presence in the region. The one thing missing was 550 acres of land for integrating security agencies.

“We thank the Suvendu Adhikari government for giving us permission to acquire the land,” said Shah.

Speaking in the land of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, the composer of Vande Mataram, Shah said he heard the song on the Independence Day stage this time after 250 years and 80 years after India’s independence.

“Bankim Babu not only accelerated our freedom struggle but also provided direction on what a free India should be. He decided that by embracing Vande Mataram, the country should move forward. The misfortune is that after India’s independence and after India was divided, Vande Mataram was never completely accepted,” lamented Shah.

The Union government has made the singing of Vande Mataram mandatory at all official government functions across the country. The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, was also implemented, giving the national song statutory protection equal to that of the national anthem.