Highlights
- BJP MP Jagannath Sarkar comments on India-Bangladesh border, promising removal of barbed wire if BJP wins.
- The remark made in Banpur, West Bengal, has sparked political controversy.
- BJP claims illegal immigration from Bangladesh affects West Bengal’s demographics; uses it as a key electoral issue.
- TMC condemns the statement, calling it BJP’s hypocrisy.
BJP MP Promises to Remove Border Barbed Wire if Party Wins
Rising political tension in West Bengal has emerged over voter list corrections (SIR) ahead of the 2026 assembly elections. In this context, Jagannath Sarkar, BJP MP from Ranaghat, made a controversial statement about the India-Bangladesh border. He said that if BJP wins, “the two Banglas will unite” and barbed wire along the border would be removed.
“নিজের ব্যবসার জন্য এখন নিজের ওয়েবসাইট — মাত্র কয়েক মিনিটে Storola দিয়ে!”
Statement at Banpur Meeting
Sarkar made the comments on Thursday at a party organizational meeting in Banpur, Nadia district. The meeting celebrated the joining of several new BJP members, strengthening the party in the region.
He said:
“কথা দিচ্ছি, এবারের ভোটে আমরা জিতলে বাংলাদেশের সঙ্গে আর কাঁটাতার রাখব না। আগেও এক ছিল দুই বাংলা, আবার এক হয়ে যাবে।”
Translation: “I promise, if we win this election, we will not keep barbed wire with Bangladesh. Once there were two Banglas united, and they will unite again.”
He also added:
“তৃণমূল জিতলেও কাঁটাতার আর থাকবে না। কিন্তু ওই দেশটা বাংলাদেশই থেকে যাবে।”
Translation: “Even if TMC wins, the barbed wire will not remain. But that country will remain Bangladesh.”
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Political Reaction and Controversy
BJP often claims that large-scale illegal immigration from Bangladesh has altered demographics in some Indian states, with alleged tacit support from West Bengal’s ruling party TMC. SIR has been highlighted as a key election issue to curb this influx.
The MP’s statement has sparked political debate. TMC General Secretary Kunal Ghosh criticized Sarkar, saying:
“জগন্নাথ সরকারের মন্তব্যে বিজেপির দ্বিচারিতা প্রকাশ্যে এল। একদিকে তারা বলছে অনুপ্রবেশ বন্ধ করতে হবে। অন্য দিকে তারাই বলছে, কাঁটাতার তুলে দেব। তাদের এই দ্বিচারিতা বাংলার মানুষ বুঝে নেবেন।”
Translation: “Jagannath Sarkar’s statement exposes BJP’s hypocrisy. On one hand, they say illegal immigration must stop, and on the other, they say they will remove the barbed wire. The people of Bengal will understand this hypocrisy.”
Source: Hindustan Times
