Amit Shah meets Mamata Banerjee one-on-one on the sidelines of key security meet

Home minister Amit Shah held a one on one meeting with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on the sidelines of the Eastern Zonal Council meeting on Saturday.

Both leaders discussed issues like land for Border Security Force outposts and Bengal government’s dues from the Centre.

Earlier, Amit Shah at a meeting of Eastern Zone Council indicated to chief ministers that the states too share a responsibility along with the BSF for security in India’s border areas.

Illegal infiltration, trans-border smuggling and the vulnerable India-Bangladesh boundary were among subjects discussed at the 25th Eastern Zonal Council (EZC) meeting, chaired by Shah, at the West Bengal secretariat near here, a senior official said.

Talks on transportation facilities and water-sharing among the states were also held at the 25th EZC meeting, which was attended by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, her counterpart from Jharkhand Hemant Soren, Bihar deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav and Odisha minister Pradeep Amat, the official said.

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The role of BSF was discussed, in the light of the increase in the operational area of the border force earlier this year. In response, according to sources, the home minister is believed to have indicated that the state governments too have a role to play in border security, according to sources.