Bengal insight : Is assisting infiltrators not treason against the Nation ?

When the Election Commission undertook a strict and detailed revision of the electoral rolls in Bengal, millions of names were removed. In this process, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) Government created numerous obstacles and initiated court hearings. Although the Election Commission was conducting the same process in other States, the dissatisfaction expressed in Bengal, particularly at the level of the ruling authorities, was many times greater. Most of the deleted names were of Muslims. Attempts were made to create an atmosphere of opposition on this basis. Subsequently, after the crushing defeat of TMC, the new Government declared that infiltration would not be tolerated. Following this, TV channels showed scenes of long queues at the border of people returning to Bangladesh. Why was this not done by the previous Government ?

Statements of infiltrators have appeared on social media, claiming that members of the TMC helped them obtain legal documents after they came from Bangladesh. Media reports also indicated that some young infiltrators knew only the name of their original village in Bangladesh. In short, it is clear that, directly or indirectly, the TMC Government was responsible for this infiltration and for nurturing it. The question is ‘Will this be called treason against the Nation or not ?’

The rule of the TMC, meaning, that of Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee, has ended in Bengal. How much the people disliked their rule is evident from the manner in which they are now treating the leaders. It is coming to light how members of TMC helped Bangladeshis in obtaining various licences, identity cards, and other documents, and how they sustained them. The extent of infiltration is also now becoming apparent.

1. What is treason against the Nation?

Attention must be paid to an important issue emerging from the developments concerning infiltrators in Bengal. For that, we should first ask ourselves what exactly constitutes treason against the Nation.

If someone unlawfully assists a foreign citizen and, by whatever means, helps him move about in the country in violation of regulations, that is an offence. Not only this, if a foreigner comes to stay in your house, it is mandatory to inform the nearest Police station about who he is, where is he from, why he has come, how long he will stay. Against this background, bringing large numbers of people from a foreign country and settling them in one’s own Nation to create a vote bank – is this not treason against the Nation ?

2. Whose stand on infiltration is truly in the interest of the Nation ?

Apart from the BJP and a few others, what did political leaders, journalists, and members of the Government think about the conduct of the TMC regarding infiltrators in Bengal ? After the election results revealed what is now coming to light, how many publicly declared their views on the matter ? How many described the actions of the TMC Government a crime or treason against the Nation ? How many demanded that those who assisted infiltrators be traced and severely punished ? How many said, ‘Our workers will search for infiltrators at the village level, help ensure that the guilty are punished, and assist the Government’ ? How many journalists, who had earlier criticised the deletion of names from the electoral rolls, have now attempted to expose the network of those who helped infiltrators ? How many advocates who argued against the Election Commission in the Supreme Court and High Courts on behalf of the Bengal Government have made any statement after witnessing the now-apparent facts and the attitude of their client towards safeguarding national interests ?

Leaders such as Adv. Kapil Sibal, who represented the TMC in the Supreme Court, commented after the public threw eggs at people such as Abhishek Banerjee, that he is ‘ashamed to live in India’. The silent individuals appear unconcerned that infiltrators have exploited the Nation and its citizens. In Bengal alone, the Government spends Rs 300 per citizen annually merely on electricity. Consider also the expense on water, housing, transport, food, and other facilities, and see how much the Nation has spent on infiltrators.

When fencing the border is so essential, will no one question those who obstructed the allocation of land for it by every possible means ? If even a small road project requires land from one or two farmers, the Government acquires that land through pressure if necessary. When the absence of fencing on the Bangladesh border for so many years was itself a major error, how can it be justified that, when the Union Government sought land for fencing, the State Government obstructed the process as much as possible ? Should the State Government not have done everything within its power to ensure that the work was completed as quickly as possible ?

3. The real problem

In a Democracy, differences of opinion, freedom of expression, and even some ignorance may be accepted. However, once a serious problem such as infiltration and the forces aiding it become evident, should there not at least be a collective expression of opposition from political parties, journalists, and intellectuals ? The fact that such opposition is not being expressed is the real and serious problem that people should recognise. Just as the TMC should be questioned, so too these individuals. The principle that is applicable here is ‘Remaining silent about a crime very much amounts to assisting it.’

4. The responsibility of the media in ending infiltration

One should not be satisfied merely because infiltrators are seen returning. There may be many more infiltrators in the Nation, along with people assisting them. If there is to be change, leaders of all political parties must reach a consensus on national interest and national security. How difficult this appears to be is already evident. Therefore, just as the public brought about change through the ballot box, journalists and the media too must do something in this regard. Only then can an effective solution to infiltration emerge.

II Shri Guru Charanarpanamastu II

– Dr Durgesh Samant (Age 65), M.D. (Medicine), Sanatan Ashram, Ramnathi, Goa. (4.6.2026)

(Will the Election Commission ban parties such as the TMC that directly or indirectly assisted infiltrators and helped infiltration ? – Editor)