Trinamool Congress helping infiltrators settle down in West Bengal, alleges Union minister Bhupender Yadav

Union minister Bhupender Yadav on Tuesday accused West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress of helping infiltrators from across the border settle down in the state.

Yadav also alleged that incidents of attacks on women have been on the rise in the state since Mamata Banerjee became chief minister in 2011.

He was addressing a press conference to commemorate the occasion of the Narendra Modi government's completion of 11 years in office.

"The state is not helping in deporting foreign nationals and the TMC is helping infiltrators become residents of this land. Incidents of crime have reached alarming proportions because of the hands-off approach of the state government's policy of appeasement," Yadav claimed.

Law and order is a state subject but the state is not doing its bit to ensure Bangladeshi infiltrators are not allowed to have a free run, he said adding that laws concerned need to be enforced but that is "not being done for political reasons".

Responding to queries whether the election process can be rigged in the assembly polls due to be held next year, Yadav said "The Election Commission will do everything to thwart any attempt of malpractice by any party."

About the alleged adverse comments made by a section of TMC leaders regarding the name 'Operation Sindoor', he said the precision strikes on terror hubs across the country's western border were marked by the valour of our armed forces.

"The entire world has seen the might of the Indian army. Legislators of every political party, including the TMC, were in the delegations sent to various countries as part of the government's global outreach against terrorism emanating from Pakistan," Yadav said.

"Now if she (Mamata Banerjee) says she does not like the name Operation Sindoor, that is most regrettable. Such things should be seen over and above politics," the union minister said.

To a question about post-poll violence in West Bengal after 2021 and allegations of attack on the BJP and other opposition activists in the run-up to the 2026 assembly elections, Yadav alleged that apart from those incidents, the number of attacks on common people has increased.

"Think about Murshidabad, think about Malda, think about Sandeshkhali. It is a matter of national shame that a government headed by a woman chief minister has looked the other way when women faced so much brutalities and atrocities in those places," he said.

Parts of Murshidabad district witnessed violence during the anti-Waqf (Amendment) Act protests in April and several families fled to neighbouring Malda district. Three people were killed in the violence.

Sandeshkhali area in South 24 Parganas district had been on the boil in February last year with protests over allegations of sexual abuse and land grab against TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh, who was arrested later, and his supporters.

"Not a single month passes in Bengal without reports of attacks on women being reported. When houses of people were being burnt and women and children bore the brunt of violence in Murshidabad, this administration did not take any action," Yadav said.

It was left to the Centre to step in and help the state in restoring normalcy and give safety to people, said the Union minister for environment, forest & climate change.

The 14-year reign of Mamata Banerjee is marked by misgovernance, he alleged.

About the post-poll violence against opposition workers, he said, "I think people of Bengal, which is the land of (Rabindranath) Tagore, Vivekananda, Shyamaprasad Mukherjee and Satyajit Ray, which gifted the nation the national anthem Jana Gana Mana and (national song) Vande Mataram, will give a befitting reply in 2026."

The assembly elections are due in the state next year.

Yadav also flagged the issue of SSC appointment scam and the loss of job of nearly 26,000 teachers.

He also claimed a CAG report had earlier held the state government responsible for not submitting lakhs of utilisation certificates in respect of grants given for projects worth Rs 2 lakh crore.

Yadav accused the state government of not implementing central projects like 'Ayushman Bharat' depriving the people.

"People have seen through the treachery of the TMC government," he said.

The Union minister accused the state government of virtually paralysing the transport sector which once boasted of a network of trams, buses and yellow taxis.

He said the Centre is doing its bit to set up an integrated Metro Corridor connecting the city.

Yadav said Modi had ushered in an era of good governance in 11 years and the country figures among the top five economies in the world.