Securing borders utmost priority for India: Randhir

Spokesperson for the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal said that securing borders is the priority of India.

His remarks came following the statement of the newly elected Chief Minister of West Bengal, Shuvendu Adhikari, who decided that the state government would hand over the required land to India’s Border Security Force (BSF) within 45 days for the construction of a barbed-wire fence along the India-Bangladesh border.

Responding to queries about this development, Randhir Jaiswal, said at a weekly briefing in New Delhi on Tuesday: “Securing our borders is a priority for us. We view this decision in that context.”
He did not comment on whether the Chief Minister’s decision could affect bilateral relations with Bangladesh.

The announcement comes following the first cabinet meeting of West Bengal’s BJP government under Shuvendu Adhikari, held on Monday.

Speaking after the meeting, Adhikari confirmed that his administration would transfer the land required for the BSF to erect the fence along the international border within 45 days.

In Dhaka, Humaiun Kobir, Foreign Affairs Advisor to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, responded to a question on Monday, stating that “there is no space to intimidate Bangladesh with barbed wire. The people and government of Bangladesh are not afraid of barbed wire.”

The briefing also touched on the Teesta development project, with questions raised about reports that Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister, Khalilur Rahman, recently sought China’s involvement in the project.

Randhir Jaiswal did not respond directly, stating only that India maintains close attention to developments and that “mutual interests take precedence in India’s relations with neighbouring countries.”

Regarding reports of varied reactions in Bangladesh to West Bengal’s electoral outcome, Jaiswal reaffirmed India’s stance: “We have already indicated that India seeks to strengthen bilateral relations and continues to view them positively.”