Mamata urges people on border with Nepal to keep the peace

As violent protests shake Nepal, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday urged people in areas bordering Nepal to maintain peace and avoid getting embroiled in issues concerning the neighbouring country.

“My request will be that everyone should maintain peace. We share a significant border in Siliguri and Kalimpong with Nepal. Nobody should get embroiled since it is not our problem,” Ms. Banerjee told media persons while leaving for a three-day trip to north Bengal.

Nepal protests updates on September 9, 2025

West Bengal shares a 100 km border with Nepal which has been witnessing violent protests over the past two days. The protests have forced the Prime Minister of Nepal K.P. Sharma Oli to resign.

Centre’s domain

The Trinamool Congress chairperson stressed that foreign policy is the domain of the central government and she cannot interfere.

“Nepal is not my country. I cannot comment on a foreign country. We love it as a neighbouring country. We love Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Now if the Indian government tells us something, we can say something,” she said. The CM added, “we will remain well if our neighbourhood remains well.” She also advised journalists not to venture into Nepal.

Last year in the first week of August, when protests erupted in Bangladesh resulting in the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s regime, she had urged people to exercise restraint and urged them not to fall for any provocation.

Ms. Banerjee maintained the same position then too, stating that foreign policy issues are the Government of India’s responsibility. West Bengal shares a 2,216 km border with Bangladesh and political turmoil there had impacted businesses in Kolkata.

Darjeeling Superintendent of Police, Praween Prakash, said the situation at the border with Nepal remains peaceful, with security forces deployed to prevent anti-social elements from entering India.

“We have set up checkpoints along the border at Panitanki, Khoribari, and Pashupatinagar. Additional forces have also been deployed to maintain law and order. The border is peaceful on our side, but we are maintaining high vigilance with round-the-clock checks,” the SP said.

SIR cannot be done in haste

Commenting on Special Intensive Revision (SIR) the Chief Minister said that the exercise cannot be carried out hastily. “We are against the SIR, and three CECs have said that SIR takes 2-3 years and cannot be done hastily. Our party has taken a stand, and it is the same as that of the INDIA bloc,” Ms. Banerjee said. The Trinamool Congress chairperson added that the voter card is an ID proof and the Aadhaar card has now been included. “Those who do not have it will get it done. I feel the EPIC card should also be included (among the list of documents in SIR),” she added.