Shah: Chicken's Neck Now Under Triangular Grid
Mr Shah, who landed at Bagdogra Airport on Friday night on a visit, said in his speech, “The Narendra Modi government has recognised the importance of national security of the Siliguri Corridor very well. This is a sensitive stretch that connects eight states.
Kolkata: Union home minister Amit Shah announced on Friday that a triangular grid based out of three states– West Bengal, Bihar and Assam– has been set up by the Centre around strategic Siliguri Corridor, popularly known as Chicken's Neck, to make its security full proof. He made the announcement after launching many security infrastructure projects of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) at Ranidanga in Siliguri.
Mr Shah, who landed at Bagdogra Airport on Friday night on a visit, said in his speech, “The Narendra Modi government has recognised the importance of national security of the Siliguri Corridor very well. This is a sensitive stretch that connects eight states. It caters to three international borders with Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh. We have built a triangular grid to make Siliguri Corridor security fullproof. We have increased vigil, presence and resources from three bases at Chopra, Kishanganj and Dhubri.”
He noted, “We have also undertaken various exercises including Teesta Prahar from time to time,” while lauding the role of SSB in guarding the unfenced international borders in the state. Mr Shah however did not miss the opportunity to come down heavily on former chief minister Mamata Banerjee for continuously ignoring the Centre's attempts to strengthen the border security throughout her rule of 15 years here.
The union home minister sarcastically pointed out, “Mr Adhikari just said he was privileged as the CM to attend an SSB event for the first time. I'm also glad but I want to rectify it a little bit. We used to invite the previous CM also but she never wanted to attend SSB events. We invited you (Mr Adhikari) and you came, you are welcome! SSB and BSF are agencies of any political party.”
Sharpening his attack on Ms Banerjee, he argued, “We had become fed up, folding hands to Mamataji in getting land to fence borders. But we did not get our land. Once I even reached her office, following her expression of interest, to request her to allot land to BSF. She initially said ‘Yes’ but did not fulfill it till her ouster. Earlier there was a problem for the Government of India not getting a land of 560 acres which Mamtaji did not provide us with.”
Mr Shah added, “I again thank Mr Adhikari for giving approval for the transfer of this amount of land.” He also praised Mr Adhikari for the quick transfer of 1,129 acres of land to the ministry of home affairs for BSF and SSB till date to fence the border. The union home minister later claimed at the exhibition of three new criminal laws about return of the rule of law in the state after BJP came to power but remained silent on the vandalism allegedly by ABVP workers at Jadavpur University.
