The West Bengal Legislative Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution against the Centre’s move to extend Border Security Force (BSF) jurisdiction to 50 km from the international border in the state.

The Central government has amended the BSF Act to empower the border guarding force to carry out search, seizure and arrest within a 50 km stretch, up from the existing 15 km, from the international border in West Bengal and Punjab and Assam.

During the discussion on the resolution, chaos erupted in the Assembly after TMC leader Udayan Guha accused BSF personnel of touching women inappropriately.

“When women cross border, BSF personnel in name of search touch them inappropriately. No matter how much they say Bharat Mata Ki Jai, they can’t be patriotic,” he said, leading to a ruckus in the House.

Trashing the TMC leader’s allegation, a BSF officer said that the border guarding force is a professional force that has always performed its duties by adhering to the rules.

“BSF is a professional force that has always performed the mandated duties by adhering to the rules and regulations. BSF Mahila Praharis are the ones who do frisking of females. The allegations of inappropriately touching women by BSF personnel are utterly baseless,” the officer said, ANI reported.

Earlier, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had criticised the Centre’s decision and accused it of trying to interfere with the federal structure of the country.

State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Partha Chatterjee had also said that the move to extend the jurisdiction of the BSF is a direct attack on the federal structure of the country,

Earlier this month, the Punjab Assembly also adopted a resolution against the Centre’s decision, calling it an “insult” to the state police and sought its withdrawal.