The Center should not disturb the federal structure, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee told Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a meeting in Delhi on Wednesday, flagging the expansion of the BSF’s jurisdiction in border states. Ms. Banerjee has demanded that the amendment BSF Act be withdrawn immediately.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), through a notification published on October 11, amended the BSF Act 1968 and increased the BSF’s jurisdiction from 15 km to 50 km in the bordering states. Although BSF no police power, it can apprehend a suspect and conduct a “preliminary inquiry”. The seized consignment or suspect has to be handed over to the local police within 24 hours
West Bengal has a 2,216-km border with Bangladesh and the TMC argues that the extension of jurisdiction will effectively bring about a third of the state’s area under it. B S fcontrol of. Out of 23 districts in the state, about 10 districts will be affected. This will affect 21 of the 42 Lok Sabha constituencies, which can have big political implications.
Sources said, Ms Banerjee told the PM that if law and order is purely a state subject and if this balance is changed then it will lead to a clear confrontation.
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“We may have political differences with each other. He cannot change, his ideology is different and ours is different. But this should not come in the way of Centre-State relations. The center can be strengthened only when the state is strong.
Speaking to the media after their meeting, Ms Banerjee also said that she had invited the PM for the inauguration of the Global Business Summit to be held in West Bengal next year. He also urged Mr Modi to clear the dues of Rs 96,000 crore, which the Center owes the state.
TMC is trying to expand its footprint across the country and is making serious efforts to oust Congress from the post of main opposition party. Asked if she would be meeting any other opposition leader, Ms Banerjee said her Delhi visit was specifically to meet the Prime Minister.
When asked why she is not meeting Congress President Sonia Gandhi, whose 10 Janpath home is a regular stop for her during her every visit, she told reporters. Why should I meet Sonia every time? It is not constitutionally mandated.”
He said he had raised the issue of violence in Tripura where TMC workers were allegedly attacked by BJP workers.
On the upcoming Uttar Pradesh elections, the TMC chief said: “If Trinamool can help defeat the BJP in UP, we will go… If Akhilesh (Samajwadi chief Akhilesh Yadav) wants our help, we will.” But he said TMC has started work in Goa and Haryana. “I think in some places regional parties are allowed to fight. If they want us to preach, we will help.”
While Ms. Banerjee did not meet the Congress president, she going to mumbai on 30 November. During the three-day visit, she said that she will meet Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and NCP chief Sharad Pawar. She also said that she will meet actor Shah Rukh Khan during her visit.
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