Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday chaired the 23rd meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council, which include West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha and Jharkhand in Kolkata.
After the meeting, the home minister met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The two are believed to have discussed the withdrawal of forces from Maoists zones in the state, Rohingya issue, the National Register of Citizens and entry of people from other states to create disturbances in West Bengal.
According to a senior official of the West Bengal government, Banerjee has also lodged complaint with the home minister about the BJP bringing people from Bihar, Jharkhand and Assam to fight Trinamool Congress politically. She also spoke about the BJP's alleged attempt to vitiate the law and order situation in the state. Sources claimed that the chief minister lodged a slew of complaints against the state BJP leaders with the home minister. Singh has reportedly assured the chief minister that he would convey her concerns to party chief Amit Shah.
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However, Singh took on Banerjee over her support to the Rohingya community. "Rajnath Singh asked the chief minister not to allow Rohingyas to roam free in Bengal. She listened to the Union home minister and said she would consider it," said a source.
Banerjee has also asked Union home minister on why the home ministry and the Union cabinet is yet to ratify the change of name of West Bengal. Singh reportedly said that it is stuck in the ministries for some necessary amendments promised that it would soon be taken up by the government.
The chief minister had asked the state representatives from Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha at the council to initiate steps to end people from their states crossing over to West Bengal to commit crimes.
Singh was his at diplomatic best as he dodged questions on the killing of two ABVP members in Islampur last month. BJP workers were surprised by the home minister's decision to not condemn the killings which led to violent protests in the state.
Singh did not meet the BJP's state president, but members of ABVP met him at the Kolkata airport shortly after his arrival in the city. He spoke to them for 40 minute before driving to the state secretariat.
However, a senior BJP leader said whether or not Singh reacted to the issue, state BJP president Dilip Ghosh met with national president Amit Shah and apprised him about the political situation in the state.
"Our president asked me to go all out. We will not leave any space for Trinamool Congress," said Ghosh.
