Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday asserted that the BJP would not rest till it uprooted the tyrannical rule of the TMC and restored democracy in Bengal.
Addressing a public rally in Siliguri town of North Bengal, he also said that the saffron party would continue to fight against the cut-money' culture (extortion), corruption and political violence.
Shah accused the ruling TMC in Bengal of "spreading canards" about the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, and said that the law would be implemented once the Covid -19 pandemic ended.
"I want to thank the people of north Bengal for raising BJP's tally in Bengal Assembly to 77 from three. The BJP won't rest till it uprooted the TMC's tyrannical rule.
"We had hoped that Mamata Banerjee would rectify herself after being voted to power for the third time. We waited for an entire year for her to rectify herself, but she didn't change. It is the ruler's law that prevails in the state," he stated.
The Union home minister claimed that Banerjee always misled Gorkhas for vested political interests. "Didi has always misled Gorkha brothers and sisters. I have come today to tell them that if there is one party that thinks in the interest of Gorkhas, it is the BJP," he said.
"We have given assurance that a permanent political solution to all problems will be found within the limits of the Constitution," he added.
Shah on Thursday added that it is difficult to stop infiltration and smuggling without the support of the local administration.
He, however, also asserted that soon a political situation would emerge wherein the local authorities would be "forced" to extend help due to public pressure.
"The BSF has to ensure that borders are impregnable. It is their constitutional right to protect the frontiers. But it is difficult to stop infiltration and smuggling without the support of the local administration. "However, we have faith that soon a political situation would come up wherein you will get that support due to public pressure. Everybody will be forced to extend all support," Shah said while addressing a BSF programme in North 24 Parganas district.
The ruling Trinamul Congress reacted sharply to Shah's statement and said it is the BSF's duty to protect the borders.
"He is trying to put the onus on others. It is the duty of the BSF to secure the borders. The local administration has provided all help to the force," TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said. The Union home minister lauded the Border Security Force's role in securing the country's borders.
"One of the main focuses of our government is to ensure the country is secured from both outside and inside. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country is moving forward in every sector as our borders are secured," he said. Shah said that the Centre has come up with a five-year programme to benefit the women jawans of BSF.
"I am well aware of the hardships faced by jawans at the borders. That is why we have come up with housing programme and various other policies to ensure that jawans get to spend more time with their families.
"The Narendra Modi government is committed to ensuring that our jawans work with minimum difficulties at borders. We will leave no stone unturned in solving their problems," he said. Shah lauded the BSF's role in the Bangladesh Liberation War while laying the foundation stone of 'Maitri Sangrahalaya' museum at Haridaspur.
Earlier in the day, Shah inaugurated floating border outposts in Hingalganj in Sundarbans and flagged off a boat ambulance during his two-day visit to West Bengal, the first since the 2021 assembly elections. He also interacted with senior BSF officials.