New Delhi, March 27 – Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday strongly criticized the Trinamool Congress over the issue of illegal infiltration from Bangladesh and asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would come to power in West Bengal in the upcoming 2026 Assembly elections, bringing an end to cross-border intrusions.
Responding to the discussion on the ‘Immigration and Foreigners (Amendment) Bill, 2025’ in the Lok Sabha, Shah detailed the current status of border fencing along India’s frontier with Bangladesh. As per agency report, he informed the House that out of the 2,216 kilometers of the Indo-Bangladesh border, fencing has been completed on 1,653 kilometers. Roads and security posts have also been established along the fenced portions.
Shah emphasized that 563 kilometers of the border still remain unfenced. He explained that of this, approximately 112 kilometers consist of rivers, streams, and hilly terrain where fencing is not feasible, while the remaining 450 kilometers could be fenced but the process is stalled due to lack of land acquisition by the West Bengal government. He pointed out that seven meetings have already been held on this matter, but progress remains hampered.
Referring to previous political restraint, Shah stated that he had refrained from speaking during the Delhi elections because the issue pertained to national security. However, with the relevant legislation under discussion in Parliament, he felt it was appropriate to bring the matter to public attention.
Reiterating his political forecast, Shah declared that in the 2026 Assembly elections, the BJP will bloom like a lotus in Bengal—a reference to the party’s symbol—and illegal infiltration will be effectively stopped.
Amit Shah had also expressed similar confidence a day earlier during the discussion on the Tribhuvan Cooperative University Bill, 2025, when he assured the House that the BJP would win in West Bengal. He also mentioned that once the BJP comes to power in the state, central welfare schemes like the Ayushman Bharat health insurance plan will be fully implemented there, just as they have been in Delhi after the BJP's electoral success.
