Himanta Biswa Sarma (left), Mamata Banerjee
NEW DELHI: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said it is important to fence West Bengal’s border with Bangladesh, alleging that “infiltrators” from the neighbouring country are entering the state under Mamata Banerjee’s watch.Campaigning in the poll-bound state days after elections were held in his own state, which borders West Bengal, the BJP leader expressed confidence that the party would emerge victorious in both.“Our only concern is why Bangladeshis should be allowed to enter our country. Mamata Banerjee does not allow us to stop them from entering. It is very important to fence the border, especially in West Bengal,” Himanta Biswa Sarma told reporters after addressing a public rally.“We will get 100 seats in Assam and 200 in West Bengal,” he added.Sarma also criticised Banerjee over alleged cow smuggling in West Bengal, asserting that the BJP would curb it if voted to power. He further maintained that meat has never been banned in BJP-ruled states.“Every day, an animal sacrifice ritual is performed at Maa Kamakhya (temple in Guwahati), but meat has not been banned in Assam. Mamata ji fears that when the BJP comes to power, meat will be banned. There are BJP governments in Assam and Bihar, but meat is not banned. She fears that with the BJP coming to power, cow smuggling in her state will stop,” he said.Polling in West Bengal will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29. In the first phase, 152 of the 294 assembly constituencies will go to the polls, with the remaining seats voting in the second phase.Counting of votes will take place on May 4 for both Assam and West Bengal, along with Kerala, Puducherry, and Tamil Nadu.The BJP has been in power in Assam since 2016 and is aiming for a hat-trick. It is the principal opposition party in West Bengal, where Banerjee’s All India Trinamool Congress, in power since 2011, is seeking a fourth consecutive term.
