India Rejects Bangladesh’s Remarks on West Bengal Violence, Urges Focus on Minority Rights at Home
India has strongly dismissed comments made by Bangladeshi officials concerning recent incidents of unrest in West Bengal.
Responding to media queries, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described the remarks as an attempt to deflect attention from the troubling human rights situation in Bangladesh.
“We firmly reject the statements issued by the Bangladesh side regarding the situation in West Bengal,” Jaiswal said.
“This is nothing more than a poorly disguised and insincere effort to create a false equivalence with India’s legitimate concerns over the ongoing persecution of minorities in Bangladesh, where those responsible for such acts continue to act with impunity.”
Jaiswal further called on Bangladesh to focus on resolving its internal challenges. “Instead of making baseless comments and engaging in virtue signaling, Bangladesh should turn its attention to safeguarding the rights of its minority communities,” he added.
The diplomatic exchange comes amid growing tension in the region, as both New Delhi and Dhaka remain highly alert to each other’s internal developments.
The Centre’s statement coincided with an announcement from West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose, who declared plans to visit Murshidabad — one of the areas hit by recent violence — and pledged to “impose peace at any cost.”
Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while assuring the public that the situation was gradually returning to normal, urged the Governor to reconsider and postpone his visit.
Bangladesh, for its part, has firmly denied any involvement in the violence that erupted in Murshidabad.
On Thursday, Shafiqul Alam, the press secretary to Bangladesh’s interim Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, issued a statement urging both the Indian government and the West Bengal administration to ensure the safety of the region’s Muslim community.
“We condemn the attacks on Muslims that have resulted in loss of lives and destruction of property,” Alam said. “We call upon the Indian government and the West Bengal authorities to take all necessary measures to protect the minority Muslim population.”
The unrest in West Bengal, particularly in Murshidabad, was sparked by protests led by members of the Muslim community against the Waqf Amendment Act, which escalated into sectarian clashes over the past few days.
Relations between India and Bangladesh have sharply deteriorated since the ousting of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last August, following widespread anti-government protests.
Ties further worsened under the interim leadership of Muhammad Yunus, as the new administration struggled to control growing incidents of violence against minorities, especially Hindus, across Bangladesh.
