Suvendu Calls Caa-Less Migrants In WB 'Infiltrators'
The CM also announced the start of their arrest by the state police and their handover to the BSF for deportation to Bangladesh: Reports
KOLKATA, May 20: Handing over nearly 75 acres of land ceremonially at an event to the Border Security Force (BSF) for fencing a 27 km-stretch of the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal, chief minister Suvendu Adhikari declared on Wednesday that whoever migrants not covered by the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) would be treated as “infiltrators” in the state.
The CM also announced the start of their arrest by the state police and their handover to the BSF for deportation to Bangladesh. He said at the state secretariat: Nabanna, “On May 14 last year, the union government sent the state government an order to deport the illegal immigrants under a law. However, the previous government opposed the CAA against the refugees’ interests.”
He added, “It also did not take advantage of the law to deport illegal immigrants. We have made this law effective from today. Seven communities of various faiths, who came here before December 31 in 2024, are covered by the CAA. Police can't harass or detain them. But those who are not covered by the CAA, are completely illegal immigrants i.e. infiltrators.”
Mr Adhikari then pointed out, “They will be directly detained, arrested and handed over to the BSF, which in turn, will arrange their deportation after contacting the BGB. This implies ‘detect, delete, deport’.” He further informed that the law would cover all the police stations at the border of the state. The land transfer of nearly 75 acres has two parts. While 43 acres are ‘purchased’ land in five districts, 31.9 acres are ‘government vested’ land in nine other areas.
Mr Adhikari explained, “The land will be handed over to the BSF within two weeks. It will cover a 27-km stretch on the Indo-Bangla border in our state. We have a 2200 km-long border out of which 1600 kms have been fenced. Still 600 kms are yet to be fenced.” He vowed to hand over land to the BSF for building its infrastructure in the remaining parts.
BSF director general Praveen Kumar who attended the event thanked the state government for the land transfer. He asserted that the step would help the force to strengthen its apparatus for protection. Earlier in the day, Mr Adhikari paid his maiden visit to North Bengal in a quick tour and assured of fulfilling all the promises BJP had made to the region in its Assembly Election manifesto.
The pledges include an AIIMS, an IIT, an IIM and a cancer hospital. Mr Adhikari also underlined qualitative steps to improve the livelihood of the tea garden workers in the zone.
