: Raising questions over Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Tuesday that in a federal structure, “We must respect each other’s jurisdiction”.
“Today Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh Ji has visited Chhit-Mahal (enclave) areas in Cooch Behar with BJP MPs. Is it an official visit or a political visit?” Ms Banerjee asked on a social networking site.
The remarks from the Chief Minister triggered strong reactions from the BJP who in turn accused her of indulging in politics over the issue.
Mr Singh, who is on a two-day visit to West Bengal, visited an enclave in Cocch Behar district. He was accompanied by BJP MP from Darjeeling Surinder Singh Ahluwalia.
“No prior discussion or consultation about the visit was made with us, though Chhit-Mahal falls within the jurisdiction of West Bengal Government… It is customary to have prior discussion in such cases with the State Government.,” the Chief Minister has said later in the day.
She claimed that despite being in north Bengal, she received only a fax message about the Home Minister’s programme.
While Mr Singh was restrained in his response to the remarks made by the Chief Minister, BJP leader Siddharth Nath Singh said that he was surprised over the remarks made by the Chief Minister and accused her of indulging in politics over the issue.
“I am here to visit the border,” the Home Minister said, when asked about Ms Banerjee’s outburst.
Speaking to The Hindu, Mr Ahluwalia said that the West Bengal Government had sent a BDO to receive the Home Minister.
Later in the evening, the Home Minister met West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi and West Bengal BJP president Rahul Sinha at Raj Bhavan.
