West Bengal’s Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, declared on Sunday that her state would remain open to individuals from the neighboring country seeking refuge amidst distress. This statement was in reference to the ongoing protests in Bangladesh, which have resulted in over 100 fatalities.
Banerjee referred to the United Nations Resolution on refugees as justification for her stand over the possible humanitarian crisis that may emerge on account of the severe law and order breakdown that has gripped Bangladesh.
“I should not be speaking on the affairs of Bangladesh since that is a sovereign nation and whatever needs to be said on the issue is a subject matter of the Centre. But I can tell you this, if helpless people come knocking on the doors of Bengal, we will surely provide them shelter,” Banerjee said at the TMC’s ‘Martyrs Day’ rally in Kolkata.
“That’s because there is a United Nations Resolution to accommodate refugees in regions adjacent to those under turmoil,” the Bengal CM added while drawing an example from Assamese people who were allowed to live in Alipurduars area of north Bengal during the Bodo strife in the northeastern state.
She assured full cooperation to the residents of Bengal with relatives stranded due to the escalating violence on the eastern side of the international border. She also offered assistance to Bangladeshis in Bengal who were having trouble returning home. Furthermore, Banerjee urged the people of West Bengal to remain calm and not be provoked by the ongoing situation in Bangladesh.
“We should exercise restraint and not walk into any provocation or excitement on the issue,” she stated.
The Trinamool Congress supremo also expressed her solidarity with the people who have remained at the receiving end of the ongoing violence in the neighbouring country.
“We are sad to see blood getting spilt and my heart goes out to those students who were killed,” she said.
However, the BJP in Bengal said that in such matters, involving the country’s foreign policies, should first be consulted with the Centre before making any public statement.
“It’s true that we are all concerned about the current situation in Bangladesh over which Delhi is keeping a close watch. Our chief minister should not be voicing her opinions on matters involving our country’s foreign policies without first consulting the Centre,” President of the BJP’s Bengal unit and junior union minister Sukanta Majumdar said.
The violence escalated in Bangladesh earlier this week after student protests demanding reforms of the quota system for government jobs.
The protesters are demanding an end to a quota system that reserves up to 30 per cent of government jobs for relatives of veterans who fought in Bangladesh’s war of independence in 1971 against Pakistan.
