Will give more than size, population of North Bengal in budget: Shah
The Statesman | 1 February 2026
A day ahead of the presentation of the Union Budget, Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that a BJP-led NDA government would allocate a budget for North Bengal that would exceed what its geographical size and population would ordinarily justify.
Addressing a large public rally in Siliguri, Shah assured the people of north Bengal that the region would not be deprived under a future BJP government.
“I promise the people of north Bengal that we will give at least one rupee more in the Budget than what is due according to its area and population. There will be no injustice to north Bengal,” he said.
Launching a sharp attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Shah alleged that the Trinamul Congress viewed north Bengal merely as a source of revenue. “For Didi, north Bengal is nothing more than a golden goose. But this will not continue for long. The time has come to say goodbye. You will have to leave by the end of April,” he said, predicting a change of guard in the state.
Shah’s remarks on the eve of the Union Budget are politically significant, as Siliguri and the larger north Bengal region have long been considered strongholds of the Bharatiya Janata Party. In the last three major elections ~ two Lok Sabha polls and one Assembly election ~ the BJP has consistently maintained an edge over the Trinamul Congress in the region.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP delivered its best-ever performance in north Bengal by winning seven of the eight parliamentary seats. Although the tally slipped to six seats in the 2024 general elections, with even a Union minister like Nisith Adhikary losing to the TMC, the BJP has continued to enjoy a strong and stable vote base across the eight districts of north Bengal.
The Union home minister underlined that the Centre would ensure the safety, security and development of the region. Describing Siliguri as strategically vital, Shah said the city was not only important for West Bengal but for the entire country, as it serves as the gateway to the northeastern states.
Referring to recent protests in Delhi over the strategically crucial “Chicken’s Neck” corridor, Shah said no one had the right to threaten the territorial integrity of the region. “This is Indian land, not anyone’s personal property. No one can dare to touch it,” he asserted.
He said Delhi Police had arrested those who raised such slogans and accused the opposition INDIA bloc of attempting to secure their release, even moving the Supreme Court. However, he claimed that the apex court rejected their pleas, calling it a victory of truth.
On the issue of illegal infiltration, Shah said the BJP would not only stop infiltration but also identify and deport every infiltrator from West Bengal. He alleged that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was afraid of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, as it would expose illegal immigrants in the state.