{
  "id": 2374221,
  "title": "‘Asking from 2014’: Mamata didn’t give land for border fencing, says Amit Shah",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/asking-from-2014-mamata-didnt-give-land-for-border-fencing-says-amit",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-21T12:27:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/amit-shah-mamata-banerjee-bengal-border-fencing-land-10843699/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed frustration this week over former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's failure to allot land for border fencing. According to Shah, he had been requesting land in West Bengal for this purpose since 2014, but his efforts remained unfulfilled. Shah made these remarks during a function organized by the Sahastra Seema Bal (SSB), a central paramilitary force, in Siliguri, West Bengal.\n\nShah praised Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari for easing the process of obtaining permission for border security projects. He claimed that Adhikari's administration now responds promptly to his requests, issuing approvals just through phone calls rather than lengthy correspondence. Shah also highlighted the SSB's lack of engagement with Banerjee's administration over the past 15 years, noting that the former chief minister never attended any SSB events during this period.\n\nFurthermore, Shah emphasized that the SSB and other central paramilitary forces, such as the Border Security Force, are non-partisan and dedicated to safeguarding the nation's security. He laid the foundation stones of several key border-security projects in the region and joined SSB jawans for lunch.\n\nThe strategic significance of the Siliguri Corridor, also known as the Chicken's Neck, was underscored by Shah. He stated that 560 acres of land were necessary to secure the narrow corridor that connects northeastern states to the rest of India. Adhikari had previously granted permission for this, and Shah added that a triangular security grid would be established for this area.\n\nShah also addressed the importance of the national song 'Vande Mataram.' He noted that the song had not been sung in public since independence and that recent changes have given it the respect it deserves. This measure, Shah suggested, would help the future generation appreciate Bankimchandra Chatterjee's nationalist vision.\n\nChief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, speaking after Shah, reiterated the significance of the SSB. He compared Shah to Chanakya, highlighting the Prime Minister's leadership under which Amit Shah is securing India's borders. Adhikari expressed hope that West Bengal would make the most significant contribution to a developed India by 2047.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "‘Pleaded with her’: Amit Shah slams Mamata Banerjee over border land delay",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/pleaded-with-her-amit-shah-slams-mamata-banerjee-over-border-land",
        "published": "2026-08-21T11:02:44.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}