Bengal Passes Resolution Against Centre's Extension Of BSF Jurisdiction, BJP Says No Legal Standing

BJP MLAs opposed the remark and demanded that it be expunged. The resolution, however, was passed with 112 voting in favour of it and 63 opposing it.

BSF soldiers patrolling at the near Petrapole Border outpost at the India-Bangladesh Border on the outskirts of Kolkata. (File Photo/ Getty)

Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal Legislative Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution against Modi government's decision to extend the jurisdiction of Border Security Force (BSF) from 15 kms to 50 kms of the international border in the state.

Bengal became the second state after Punjab where resolution to restrict BSF jurisdiction has been tabled and passed.

According to reports, the resolution was moved by Bengal Parliamentary Affairs minister Partha Chatterjee under Rule 169 of the Procedures of Conduct of Business of the House.

"We demand that this decision be withdrawn immediately as enhancing the area of jurisdiction of the BSF is a direct attack on the country's federal structure," he said.

Meanwhile, BJP MLAs opposed the remark and demanded that it be expunged.

The resolution, however, was passed with 112 voting in favour of it and 63 opposing it.

Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari said that there is no legal standing of the resolution passed by Trinamool Congress-led government as the implementation of the MHA notification is already in effect.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led Central government, last month, amended the BSF Act to authorise the force to undertake search, seizure and arrest within a larger 50 km stretch, instead of 15 km, from the international border in Punjab, West Bengal and Assam.

He also alleged that TMC's cow and drug smugglers and human traffickers are all scared by Centre's move.

"The way senior TMC MLAs and ministers abused the BSF during this discussion in the Assembly, is shameful. I was wondering if this discussion is happening in an Indian state or a Pakistani/Afghanistani state," Adhikari said while speaking to news agency ANI.

"There's no fencing in Bengal's 500-km border. Mainly, they enter from the coastal areas & carry out anti-national activities from Cooch Behar, North & South Dinajpur, Malda, Murshidabad and Nadia. There needs to be an action taken against it immediately," he added.