DHAKA: A controversy on Tuesday erupted over Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to Teen Bigha in West Bengal bordering Bangladesh with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee questioning the motive behind the trip while BJP accused her of politicising a national security issue.

Mamata said the Centre should have consulted the state government and wondered whether it was a 'political visit' by Singh with BJP MPs. Singh was accompanied by party MP SS Ahluwalia.

"Today (Tuesday), Union Home Minister Rajnath Singhji has visited Chhit-Mahal (Indo-Bangladesh enclaves) areas in Cooch Behar, along with BJP MPs. Is it an official visit or a political visit?" Mamata said on Facebook.

She said no prior discussion or consultation about the visit was made with the state government, though Chhit-Mahal and law and order fell within the jurisdiction of the state government.

"It is customary to have prior discussion in such cases with the state government. Even though I am now in North Bengal, with a prior programme, I have only received a fax message of his tour programme. I think in our federal structure, we must respect each other's jurisdiction," the WB chief minister said.

Asked why no West Bengal government official was present during his visit, Rajnath Singh told reporters in Teen Bigha "it is a visit to the forward areas of the border which is being looked after by the BSF."

Seeking to downplay the issue, he said the district administration is fully cooperating with the BSF authorities during his tour.

BJP leader Sidharth Nath Singh, who is the in-charge of party's affairs in West Bengal, refuted Mamata's claim and said the Home Ministry had informed her office as well as that of the state Governor's on March 25 about Rajnath Singh's visit.

"All offices concerned were informed as per the protocol. The Chief Minister is again bringing politics into the matter of national security," he said.

Referring to the Burdwan blast, he said it was imperative for the Home Minister to visit these border areas. Meanwhile, the Home Ministry refuted Mamata Banerjee's claim that her government was not aware about Home Minister Rajnath Singh's visit in some border areas in the state.

Official sources said that the Home Ministry had conveyed to the state government on March 25 about the visit.

The state government had on March 28 sought a clarification from the Election Commission about the visit as the process of local bodies elections in West Bengal was currently on.

The EC conveyed its no objection subsequently to the state government, sources said.

Source: firstpost.com

BDST: 0908 HRS, APR 01, 2015