West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (PTI)
She ensured all cooperation to Bangladesh residents whose relatives may be in trouble due to the escalation of violence on the east side of the international border. She also provided assistance to Bangladeshis who came to Bangladesh but faced difficulties in returning home.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Sunday she would provide asylum to victims from the neighboring country after violence escalated in Bengal. She also said she would continue to open the country's doors to people in need in neighboring countries.
The TMC supremo mentioned the UN resolution on refugees as justification for her stand on the possible humanitarian crisis that may arise due to the severe breakdown of law and order in Bangladesh over the past few days.
Addressing the TMC Martyrs' Day rally in Kolkata, Banerjee said, “I should not talk about Bangladesh's affairs because Bangladesh is a sovereign country and whatever needs to be said on the issue is the Centre's subject. But I can tell you that if helpless people knock on the door of Bangladesh, we will provide them with shelter.
“This is because there is a United Nations resolution that requires resettlement of refugees in areas adjacent to troubled areas,” the Bangladesh chief minister added amid clashes in the northeastern state.
She further assured all cooperation to residents of Bangladesh, whose relatives may be in trouble due to the escalation of violence on the eastern side of the international border. She also provided assistance to Bangladeshis who came to Bangladesh but faced difficulties in returning home. Banerjee further requested the people of West Bengal not to be irritated over the current situation in Bangladesh.
“We should exercise restraint and not get into any provocation or excitement on this issue,” she said.
The Trinamool Congress president also expressed her solidarity with the victims of the ongoing violence in the neighboring country.
“We are saddened to see the blood spilled and my heart goes out to the students who lost their lives,” she said.
However, Sukanta Majumdar, president of the BJP's Bengal unit and junior union minister, felt that such matters involving the country's foreign policy should first be consulted with the Center before making any public statement.
“Indeed, we are all worried about the current situation in Bengal and Delhi is watching it closely. Our chief minister should not express opinions on issues involving our country's foreign policy without first consulting the Centre.
Violence has escalated in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka and elsewhere as student protests demand reform of the government's job quota system.
Protesters are demanding an end to the quota system that reserves up to 30% of government jobs for relatives of veterans who fought against Pakistan in Bangladesh's 1971 war of independence.
“These matters are handled by the Centre,” government sources said
Reacting to the West Bengal chief minister's comments, government sources said: “These matters are handled by the union government. The state government has no position on the issue and hence their comments are completely wrong.”
(With PTI input)
