Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a scathing attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of turning a blind eye to infiltration for the sake of votes during a public rally in Dakshin Dinajpur.

Shah's visit marked his first to the state since the election dates were announced.

He criticised Banerjee for allegedly harbouring infiltrators as her vote bank, contrasting this with Assam's success in curbing infiltration under BJP rule. Shah urged voters to support the BJP in winning 30 out of Bengal's 42 seats, promising stringent border control measures if the party forms the government.

"...Mamata Didi will not stop infiltration because these infiltrators are her vote bank. PM Narendra Modi and the BJP government can stop infiltration in Bengal," HM Amit Shah said.

Shah addressed the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), asserting that Banerjee misleads people on its provisions, emphasising that refugees can apply without fear under Modi's government. He also accused her of favouring Rohingya migrants while neglecting Hindu, Sikh, and Buddhist refugees.

"Assam faced a similar problem of infiltration. The people of Assam voted the BJP to power and no one can come into Assam from its borders. We have got rid of the problem of infiltration," Shah added.

"She (Mamata) welcomes infiltrators and Rohingyas in Bengal, but is misleading Hindus, Sikhs, and Buddhist refugees. You will not be successful. PM Modi has already notified the CAA Rules," the Home Minister said. 

Further, Shah criticised Banerjee's handling of the NIA raid and her alleged protection of those accused in the Sandeshkhali atrocities against women, accusing her of playing politics at the expense of justice.

"There was a bomb blast in Bhupatinagar in 2022, in which 3 people were killed. Tell me whether those who carried out the bomb blasts should be put behind bars or not? The High Court handed over the investigation to the NIA and Mamata Didi wants to save the accused by registering a case against the NIA. Don't worry. The High Court has given the responsibility to the NIA. All the accused will be hanged upside down," the BJP leader said.

"Mamata Didi, you are a woman Chief Minister. I want to ask you one thing. You are doing politics even on a shameful incident like Sandeshkhali. For years, women were being tortured right under your nose and the Trinamool Congress goons kept committing atrocities. When ED went to arrest the accused, stones were pelted at ED. They (TMC) surrendered only when the High Court directed them to do so. You are trying to appease some people just for the sake of votes but all the women of Bengal are seeing this. They know that you are with those who committed atrocities against women in Sandeshkhali," HM Amit Shah added.

West Bengal will vote in all seven phases of the Lok Sabha elections starting April 19, with results on June 4. In the 2014 elections, TMC secured 34 seats, while BJP won 2. However, BJP's 2019 performance improved significantly with 18 seats, challenging TMC's dominance.