Mahua flags Thakur’s border ‘pass’ to ‘smugglers’, min retorts
Times of India | 9 July 2024
12 Kolkata: TMC’s Krishnanagar MP Mahua Moitra on Monday accused Union minister Shantanu Thakur of issuing “passes” to “smugglers” active on the India-Bangladesh border. On her X handle, Moitra posted a photograph of the “pass” issued on Thakur’s official letterhead. Thakur claimed that he had issued special passes to persons living there on humanitarian grounds.
On Monday, Moitra posted a photograph of the “pass” issued on July 2 to the 85th battalion of BSF and purportedly signed by Thakur.It was allegedly issued to Jiarul Gazi of Hakimpur, North 24 Parganas. Gazi carried 3 kg beef with the “pass”, Moitra claimed.
“Union minister has printed forms on official letterhead to @BSF_India 85BN issuing “passes” for smugglers on Indo-Bangla border. In this case for allowing 3 kg of beef,” Moitra wrote in her post.
Thakur on Monday pointed at a public announcement by him last Dec where he had said that slips will be issued to individuals who wanted to cross the border on an emergency basis. He had earlier alleged that BSF was allowing people to exchange goods if they showed slips issued by Trinamool leaders. “The allegation is weird and silly. No minister would issue slips to smuggle 3 kg of beef,” Thakur said.
“There are naka check points of BSF 500 metres before the border area at Swarupnagar and Hakimpur. There are nearly 20,000 people who reside in the area and the road by the naka point is the only route for commute. So far, TMC’s panchayat members have been issuing slips to locals who went through that area. This led to exclusion of a large section of people. Hence, I issued such passes to those who were denied passes by Trinamool,” Thakur said.
Alleging a wrong representation of facts by Moitra, Thakur said there were instances when Indian civilians were stripped after they passed through that road without a slip. “After such reports, we issued slips to BJP karyakartas in the area. This was to help the civilians and has nothing to do with smuggling. BSF will always check the articles they are carrying,” Thakur said. He also claimed that the system of issuing slips was introduced by BSF. “Moitra is misleading people and spreading a propaganda based on political conspiracy,” he added.