Amit Shah’s visit to Kolkata was marked by a fierce political offensive against the West Bengal Chief Minister and her party,
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during a recent meeting with BJP workers in Kolkata, delivered a forceful critique of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of insulting Indian women and compromising national security by opposing Operation Sindoor, a counter-terror military operation carried out by India.
Shah’s remarks come amid rising political tensions in West Bengal, with an eye on the 2026 Assembly elections.
Accusation of Betraying Indian Women
Shah strongly condemned Mamata Banerjee’s public criticism of Operation Sindoor, calling it not just a political misstep but a betrayal of the sentiments of Indian women.
According to him, by questioning the legitimacy of Operation Sindoor—a strike that he claimed eliminated hundreds of terrorists deep inside Pakistan—Banerjee had disrespected the mothers and sisters of India.
“Mamata Banerjee is criticising Operation Sindoor to appease her Muslim vote bank in Bengal,” Shah alleged. “This is not just an insult to our military forces, but also to the courage and pain of Indian women, especially those who have lost loved ones to terrorism.
The women of Bengal will not forget this. In 2026, they will teach Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) a lesson.”
Silence on Pahalgam Terror Attack
Shah also aimed at Banerjee’s alleged silence on the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, in which tourists from Bengal were killed.
“At a time when Bengal’s people were victims of terrorism, Mamata Banerjee said nothing. Her silence speaks volumes about her priorities,” Shah said.
He underscored that Operation Sindoor was a direct response to that attack, stressing that India’s military strike demonstrated a new level of assertiveness in the country’s counter-terrorism approach.
Allegations of State-Sponsored Violence in Murshidabad
Shah further accused the West Bengal government of actively facilitating communal violence in the Murshidabad district. According to him, the recent unrest there was not a spontaneous outburst, but a carefully orchestrated riot, allegedly encouraged by state leaders.
“When violence erupted in Murshidabad, our Union Home Ministry recommended the deployment of BSF (Border Security Force) to restore peace.
But the state government refused,” he said. “Had the BSF been allowed to intervene in time, they could have protected innocent Hindus.
But instead, TMC leaders not only blocked their entry but also verbally abused BSF personnel. I have no hesitation in saying that this was a state-sponsored riot, with TMC ministers complicit in fuelling the violence.”
TMC Blocking National Security Measures
The Home Minister didn’t stop there. He went on to accuse Mamata Banerjee and her party of deliberately obstructing national security efforts along Bengal’s international borders.
“TMC refuses to provide land needed by BSF to erect fences and strengthen border security. Why? Because they want cross-border infiltration to continue,” Shah charged.
According to Shah, this strategy is part of the TMC’s alleged vote-bank politics. “They want infiltration to persist so that their electoral base expands, even if it means compromising the sovereignty of the nation,” he said. “All this, so that Mamata Banerjee’s nephew can inherit the CM’s chair.”
He added, “But let me make this clear—this is Modi’s India, and Operation Sindoor is far from over. Anyone who threatens India’s peace and integrity will face swift and decisive consequences.”
Challenge to Mamata Banerjee: Contest Elections Without Violence
Shah issued a direct challenge to the West Bengal Chief Minister. He dared her to contest future elections without the use of force, voter intimidation, or electoral malpractices.
“If Mamata Didi contests fairly, her security deposit will be forfeited. That is how unpopular her government has become,” he claimed.
He accused Banerjee of crossing all limits in her quest for political power, saying that her “appeasement politics” have hurt the state’s development and security.
“She gave a political speech opposing Operation Sindoor, even after our soldiers avenged the deaths of Indian citizens by striking terror bases 100 kilometers inside Pakistan,” Shah said. “Why does this pain Didi’s stomach? Whose side is she really on?”
Investment in Forensic Infrastructure
Amid these fiery political exchanges, Shah also highlighted the Union government’s commitment to strengthening India’s forensic science infrastructure.
Speaking at the inauguration of a new building for the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) in Rajarhat, on the outskirts of Kolkata, he announced an ambitious plan involving an investment of ₹2,800 crore.
This budget includes:
- ₹1,300 crore to establish nine new campuses of the National Forensic Sciences University (NSFU).
- ₹860 crore to set up seven new Central Forensic Science Laboratories (CFSLs) in states including Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Kerala, and Bihar.
Shah emphasized that this initiative will significantly strengthen India’s evidence-based criminal justice system, ensuring that investigations are backed by robust and modern scientific processes.
“A modern forensic infrastructure is essential to fight crimes and ensure justice. We are working towards building a foolproof, scientific, and efficient justice system for our citizens,” he said.
Amit Shah’s visit to Kolkata was marked by a fierce political offensive against the West Bengal Chief Minister and her party, coupled with key national security and development announcements.
As the countdown to the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections begins, the battle lines between the BJP and TMC appear to be firmly drawn, with national security, infiltration, and communal harmony emerging as the key talking points.
