Trinamul leaders in Cooch Behar and Alipurduar will highlight the alleged indifference of the BJP MPs of these districts, who are also Union ministers of state, in addressing alleged atrocities of BSF at the India-Bangladesh border, and for backing the statehood demand.

“We will organise a daylong demonstration on February 19 in front of the house of Nisith Pramanik (the Cooch Behar MP) for not taking any initiative to stop the BSF from firing at residents of bordering villages without provocation. He is the Union minister of state for home affairs and yet is indifferent on this,” said Udayan Guha, north Bengal development minister and Dinhata MLA.

The decision comes within 48 hours of Trinamul national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee training guns at the Centre over the death of Prem Kumar Barman, 24, of Cooch Behar who was allegedly shot dead by BSF pellets.

Ahead of panchayat polls, Trinamul is exerting pressure on BJP in north Bengal on a range of issues.

Pramanik said that Trinamul was trying to malign the BSF for political interest.

“Trinamul has become politically bankrupt and that is why they are resorting to such acts. If they dare, they can demonstrate at my office in North Block of Delhi,” he said.

In Alipurduar, Trinamul on Monday held a march and a public meeting. Suman Kanjilal, the local MLA elected from the BJP who walked into the Trinamul camp last week, joined state ministers Bulu Chik Baraik and Birbaha Hansda in the events.

“I could not do anything in the last 18 months and the (BJP) MP of Alipurduar (John Barla) didn’t help us with any development work. We couldn’t reply to people when they asked me about the remarks of some BJP leaders, including the MP, on the statehood issue,” said Kanjilal.

Barla, a Union minister of state, has on some occasions backed the statehood demand.