Trinamool asks Centre not to withdraw CRPF from West Bengal

New Delhi: Trinamool Congress today demanded that the Centre stays its plan of withdrawing CRPF from West Bengal saying the region is still grappling with terror groups and that nothing should be done without consulting the state government.

The issue was raised during Zero Hour in both Houses of Parliament.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh, in Lok Sabha, said he was not aware of the issue.

“I will collect information,” and get back to members, he said.

Raising the issue in the House, TMC leader Sudip Bandhopadhyay said the news was shocking as the state government was not consulted and the state faced problems from militants especially in border areas and in Jungalmahal.

His party colleague Derek O’Brien (TMC) said in the Rajya Sabha that the Centre is going ahead with its plan to withdraw 13 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) companies posted in north Bengal from Thursday onwards and requested the Union home ministry to stay this order.

“Despite the state government writing to the Centre on this issue, five CRPF companies will be withdrawn tomorrow morning and eight more will be withdrawn on July 31,” he said.

North Bengal, which shares borders with three countries, is “quite tense and KLO (Kamtapur Liberation Organisation) is operating in that region. I request in the interest of peace, please stay this order,” O’Brien said.

PTI