Mahua Moitra, Union mantri spar over border 'passes' to 'smugglers'

KOLKATA: TMC's Krishnanagar MP Mahua Moitra on Monday accused Union minister Shantanu Thakur of issuing "passes" to "smugglers" active on the India Bangladesh border. On her X handle, Moitra posted a photograph of the "pass" issued on Thakur's official letterhead. Thakur claimed that he had issued special passes to persons living there on humanitarian grounds.
On Monday, Moitra posted a photograph of the "pass" issued on July 2 to the 85th battalion of BSF and purportedly signed by Thakur.It was allegedly issued to Jiarul Gazi of Hakimpur, North 24 Parganas. Gazi carried 3 kg beef with the "pass", Moitra claimed.
"Union minister has printed forms on official letterhead to @BSF_India 85BN issuing "passes" for smugglers on Indo-Bangla border. In this case for allowing 3 kg of beef," Moitra wrote in her post.
Thakur on Monday pointed at a public announcement by him last Dec where he had said that slips will be issued to individuals who wanted to cross the border on an emergency basis. He had earlier alleged that BSF was allowing people to exchange goods if they showed slips issued by Trinamool leaders. "The allegation is weird and silly. No minister would issue slips to smuggle 3 kg of beef," Thakur said.