Kolkata, July 9: TMC MP Mahua Moitra accused Union Minister Shantanu Thakur of "issuing passes" to "smugglers" on the India-Bangladesh border, an allegation that was dismissed by the BJP leader. Moitra shared on X an image of a letter purportedly signed by Thakur and alleged that the union minister had facilitated "smugglers" for transporting "3 kg of beef".

"The Union Minister has printed forms on official letterhead for @BSF_India 85BN, issuing 'passes' for smugglers on the Indo-Bangla border. In this instance, it was to allow 3 kgs of beef," Moitra posted on the microblogging site on Monday. Mahua Moitra Alleges Shantanu Thakur Issued Passes for ‘Smugglers’ To Transport Beef Through India-Bangladesh Border, Union Minister Terms Allegation ‘Political Stunt’.

Thakur, a prominent leader of the Matua community in the Bongaon Lok Sabha seat, said, "The allegation is baseless. It appears Mahua Moitra has made it a habit to level unfounded accusations." "Why would someone smuggle only three kgs of beef? Isn't that absurd? She knows such passes are issued in border areas to ease local issues. She has deliberately concealed this fact," Thakur told PTI. Mahua Moitra 'Pajama' Remark On NCW: Delhi Police Writes to X, Seeks Details of TMC Leader's Deleted Remark on Rekha Sharma.

Mahua Moitra Accuses Shantanu Thakur of Issuing Passes to Smugglers

Shantanu Thakur Denies Claims

Moitra had on Monday also shared a post of Nilanjan Das, the general secretary of the TMC IT Cell, where he uploaded a video featuring a person named Jiyarul Ghazi in whose name the purported pass was issued.