The MEA on Thursday confirmed reports that Bangladesh is unhappy with the remarks made by West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee with respect to the recent student protests there which led to the deaths of 193 people.
The ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also cited the Union List of the Indian Constitution and the Seventh schedule which says that the conduct of foreign affairs and matters that involve the Union and a foreign country are the sole prerogative of the Union government.
“I can confirm that we have received such a communication from the Bangladesh side. It is essentially on the lines described in the reports. I would underline that under the 7th Schedule, List 1 – Union List, Item 10, of our Constitution, the conduct of foreign affairs and all matters which bring the Union into relation with any foreign country, are the sole prerogative of the Union government,” Jaiswal said.
The MEA also said that it is closely following the events in Bangladesh.
“India considers the ongoing situation in the country to be an internal matter of Bangladesh. With the support and cooperation of the Bangladesh government, we were able to arrange for the safe return of our students. Being a close neighbour with whom we share very warm and friendly ties, we are hopeful that the situation in the country would return to normal soon,” Jaiswal said.
In an address at a public event in Kolkata recently, Banerjee, referring to violence-hit Bangladesh, said she would keep the doors of West Bengal open for people in distress from the neighbouring country and offer them shelter. She also posted similar comments from her account on platform X.
Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry has communicated with the Indian government through diplomatic channels, noting that Banerjee’s remarks on social media could create confusion among people.
Sources within the Bangladesh government speaking to CNN-News18 said remarks made relating to deaths of students in the protests was ‘misleading’ and hampers their efforts to bring normalcy.
“The situation mentioned with reference to the United Nations Resolution, does not prevail in Bangladesh,” the sources said.
“This kind of comment, in particular the assurance of giving refuge to the people, may provoke many people, especially the terrorists and miscreants to take advantage of such an announcement,” the source said.
Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wept Thursday as she surveyed the destruction wrought by days of deadly unrest, as student leaders weighed the future of the protests that precipitated the disorder.
The unrest was sparked by protests against a public jobs quota scheme that critics say gives preference to allies of Hasina’s ruling party.
Thousands of troops are still patrolling cities and a nationwide internet shutdown remains largely in effect, but clashes have subsided since protest leaders announced a temporary halt to new demonstrations.
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