Kolkata

Mithun Chakraborty on Saturday accused the All India Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal of imposing higher taxes on fuel and questioned why petrol and diesel prices in the state were higher than in several others.

Responding to criticism from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the recent cooking gas price hike, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said the increase in domestic LPG prices was linked to rising global energy costs amid the conflict in West Asia.

Oil marketing companies on Saturday raised the price of domestic LPG cylinders by ₹60, citing increased energy prices due to the regional conflict.

Speaking at a press conference at the BJP’s state office in Kolkata, Chakraborty said the chief minister was trying to politicise a global crisis.

He warned that petrol and diesel prices could also rise because of the conflict involving the United States, Israel, Iran and other Gulf nations.

“Why are petrol and diesel costlier in West Bengal compared to other states?” he asked, urging the state government to reduce taxes on fuel as several other states had done.

Chakraborty also said that the main issue in the poll-bound state was public safety, particularly women’s security.

Criticising Banerjee for advising women not to go out late at night, he said the focus should instead be on ensuring better law and order.

“If the BJP comes to power in Bengal, we will ensure a safe and secure environment for women,” he said.

The actor-turned-politician also alleged that criminal activities were rising in the state and that law and order had deteriorated compared to earlier times when women could move freely even after midnight.

He further claimed that the porous border between West Bengal and Bangladesh was leading to illegal infiltration.

Chakraborty alleged that the state government was not providing land for fencing the international border, allowing people to cross illegally.

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He also claimed that many such migrants were influencing electoral outcomes in the state and alleged that illegal immigration was leading to a “radical transformation” in the region.