Union Home Minister Amit Shah raked up the issue of infiltration into West Bengal from Bangladesh, saying it was not just a state problem, but a problem for the entire country.
In a strong message to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on her turf, Shah, who is on a three-day visit to the state, said: "I want to ask Mamata Banerjee through this press conference, which government is not giving land to construct proper fencing at the border (Bengal-Bangladesh)? I will say it myself: it is your government which does not give land, which is why the fencing work has not been completed."
Live from the press conference in Kolkata, West Bengal.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) December 30, 2025
পশ্চিমবঙ্গের কলকাতা থেকে সরাসরি সাংবাদিক সম্মেলন। https://t.co/cpiLQd4IKO
"We will not just stop infiltrators; the BJP government in Bengal will hunt down each infiltrator and throw them out of the country," he added, amid the second phase of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) without directly mentioning it.
The Union home minister reassured the Hindu minority Matua community, which has its roots in Bangladesh, that there is no need for them to worry. Many Matuas do not have relevant citizenship documents and their names are absent in the 2002 list. "There is no need for Matuas to be scared. This is a promise of the BJP. Those immigrants who have come to Bengal are citizens of the country; no one can harm them, not even Mamata Banerjee," said Shah.
He was flanked by BJP MP Shantanu Thakur, who represents the Matua community. Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, BJP state president and Raya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya, and former state BJP president and Union Minister of State for Education Dr Sukanta Majumdar, too, were present.
The saffron party is confident of pulling the rug from under the Trinamool Congress's feet in the 2026 assembly elections with a two-thirds majority, Shah said. "In the 2026 elections, our government will be formed, and the BJP has strong proof of that when we look at our journey from the 2014-2024 election," he said, referring to the party's progress in recent elections.
The BJP bagged:
17 per cent vote share in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and won 2 seats
10 per cent vote share in the 2016 Assembly elections and won 3 seats
41 per cent vote share in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and won 18 seats
38 per cent vote share in the 2021 Assembly elections and won 77 seats
39 per cent vote share in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and won 12 seats
"The BJP doesn't need to weaken Trinamool because Trinamool has lost the people's support due to its own misgivings," said Shah.
He assured people that the saffron party will work towards development and restoring the former glory of West Bengal, which is a land known for stalwarts like Swami Vivekananda, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, and BJP's founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee.
"After the BJP government is formed, whatever schemes she (Mamata) is running won't end, and we will also implement our schemes; that is our track record," he clarified.
Shah's Kolkata visit includes meetings with party leaders and workers to create a roadmap for the election year.
