India has officially rejected the remarks made by neighbouring country Bangladesh over violence that erupted in West Bengal last week and Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal suggested Dhaka to focus on protecting the rights of its own minorities rather than making "unwarranted" comments.
Bangladesh chief adviser Muhammad Yunus's press secretary had called on India to 'protect' the minority communities after a violence broke out in Murshidabad district of West Bengal killing three people.
India's Statement
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal shared the statement India made in response to Bangladesh's remarks which said, "We reject the remarks made by the Bangladeshi 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," Jaiswal said.
"Instead of making unwarranted comments and indulging in virtue signalling, Bangladesh would do better to focus on protecting the rights of its own minorities," the MEA spokesperson further said.
What Did Bangladesh Say?
Bangladesh's chief adviser's press secretary, Shafiqul Alam had earlier called on India to "fully protect" its Muslim minority population.
Initial intel reports suggested that Bangladeshi miscreants were involved in the Murshidabad violence and referring to that, Alam denied any Bangladeshi involvement when he spoke to local media.
"We strongly refute any attempts to implicate Bangladesh in the communal violence in Murshidabad," Alam was quoted in a Bangladeshi local daily.
What Happened In West Bengal?
The West Bengal government submitted a report to the Calcutta High Court on the situation in Murshidabad district and details about the widespread incidents of violence between April 8 and April 12 by unruly mob in connection with protests over the Waqf Act.
It stated that following intervention by the police and civil administration, the situation in Suti, Dhulian, Samserganj and Jangipur is now under control.
The report said an anti-Waqf Act protest comprising about 4,000 to 5,000 people had on April 8 blocked National Highway-12 at Umarpur, which turned unruly.
It also stated that on April 11, unruly mobs protesting the Waqf Act had again blocked the national highway, and vandalised government and private property at Suti and Samserganj. Two persons - Haragobinda Das and his son Chandan Das - were killed by a mob on April 12 at Jafrabad under Samserganj police station. A total of three people have been killed in the violence.
