Kolkata, May 25 -- The issue of "holding centres" for suspected illegal infiltrators triggered a sharp political confrontation in Bengal on Monday, with leaders of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) accusing the BJP government of introducing "detention politics" in the state.
Addressing a Press conference, senior TMC leader Kunal Ghosh and Babul Supriyo alleged that the BJP was attempting to import "Assam-style detention centre politics" into Bengal under the guise of holding centres.
"Call it whatever you want, this is effectively a detention centre," Kunal said, questioning whether valid Indian citizens could also face harassment due to "political vendetta."
He argued that India already has a legal process to deal with illegal infiltration, including arrest, court production, imprisonment and diplomatic deportation procedures. According to him, if infiltration has taken place, the responsibility lies with the Centre and the BSF, which guards the international border. "Who will ensure that genuine citizens are not branded as Bangladeshis?" he asked.
TMC leader Babul Supriyo also questioned the functioning of the BSF and the Centre over the issue. "If infiltration is happening, what was the BSF doing all this time? Now there is a double-engine government at both the Centre and the state, so how are infiltrators still entering?" he said.
The controversy intensified after reports emerged that three suspected Bangladeshi nationals had been kept at a newly created holding centre at Padmabhavan in Lalgola, Murshidabad. Sources said the detainees, all adult men, were being kept under strict security, though their identities have not been officially disclosed.
A holding centre became operational in Malda, where nine suspected Bangladeshi nationals, including three women and six minors, were reportedly lodged as part of the state's new mechanism.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.