New Delhi: India on Friday reacted strongly to Bangladesh’s statement regarding the violence in West Bengal erupted due to protests over the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) termed the statement by Bangladesh as “unwarranted”.
“We reject the remarks made by the Bangladesh side with regard to the incidents in West Bengal. This is a barely disguised and disingenuous attempt to draw a parallel with India’s concerns over the ongoing persecution of minorities in Bangladesh, where the criminal perpetrators of such acts continue to roam free,” the MEA said in a statement.
MEA’s Statement:
“Instead of making unwarranted comments and indulging in virtue signalling, Bangladesh would do better to focus on protecting the rights of its own minorities,” it added.
Statement By Bangladesh:
In a statement on Thursday, Shafiqul Alam, the press secretary to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, expressed condemnation over the attacks on Muslims, which resulted in significant loss of life and property, urging the Indian government and West Bengal authorities to take necessary steps to ensure the safety and protection of the minority Muslim population.
The controversy erupted after reports surfaced suggesting that an initial investigation into the Murshidabad violence by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had pointed to the involvement of alleged Bangladeshi miscreants.
Bangladesh’s interim government denied any involvement in the communal violence that recently erupted in Murshidabad, Bangladesh-based Daily Observer stated on Thursday.
West Bengal Violence:
Some parts of West Bengal, including Murshidabad, witnessed sectarian violence in the past few days following protests by the Muslim community against the Waqf Amendment Act.
India-Bangladesh Relations After Sheikh Hasina’s Ousted:
There has been a sharp downturn in India-Bangladesh relations after deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled Dhaka last August in the face of a massive anti-government protest.
The relations nosedived dramatically after the interim government headed by Yunus failed to contain attacks on minorities, especially Hindus, in that country.
