Kolkata, August 2, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
West Bengal Municipal Affairs and Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Paul on Sunday expressed concern over the security of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari following the recent arrest of an alleged Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) aide in the state. She urged the Chief Minister to adopt enhanced security measures, including the use of bulletproof jackets, bulletproof vehicles and jammer-equipped convoys.
Speaking to reporters after arriving at Bagdogra Airport to attend official programmes of the Siliguri Municipal Corporation, Paul said the Chief Minister’s close interaction with the public made him particularly vulnerable to security threats.
Referring to the recent arrest, the minister alleged that extremist elements had become emboldened due to what she described as years of vote-bank politics under the previous Trinamool Congress government led by Mamata Banerjee.
Paul claimed that the previous government failed to address illegal immigration and the use of forged documents, alleging that such policies had created an environment in which militant activities could flourish. She further alleged that the current security concerns facing the Chief Minister were a consequence of those policies.
The minister appealed to the Chief Minister to ensure maximum personal security by travelling in bulletproof vehicles, wearing protective gear and using jammer-equipped convoys.
During her interaction with the media, Paul also criticised previous Left Front and Trinamool Congress governments over their handling of exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin’s case.
She alleged that successive governments led by former Chief Ministers Jyoti Basu, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Mamata Banerjee had prioritised religious appeasement and vote-bank politics instead of supporting Nasrin.
Describing Nasrin as a woman who consistently spoke against injustice, Paul said she regretted that earlier state governments had failed to stand by the exiled writer despite her unwavering commitment to her beliefs.
FOLLOW NOW
