India Rejects Bangladesh’s Comments On West Bengal Violence; Calls Them Misleading

On Friday, India strongly dismissed Bangladesh’s remarks concerning the recent violence in West Bengal, labeling them misleading and unwarranted.

Bangladesh’s comments followed protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act in West Bengal, where Dhaka had called on Indian authorities to ensure the safety of the minority Muslim community in the state.

In a sharp rebuttal, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) advised Bangladesh to address its own human rights record rather than commenting on India’s internal issues.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal responded to media questions by saying, “We reject the remarks made by the Bangladesh 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 further emphasized, “Instead of making unwarranted comments and indulging in virtue signalling, Bangladesh would do better to focus on protecting the rights of its minorities.”

The exchange of statements comes amid rising political and communal tensions in West Bengal, where protests against the new legislation led to violent clashes.

These events attracted significant media attention and political debate.

Bangladesh’s call for the protection of minorities in India met with sharp criticism from Indian officials, who saw it as an effort to deflect attention from ongoing human rights issues in Bangladesh, particularly concerning religious minorities.

Mamata Banerjee’s Statement On Violence

In West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee labeled the violence as ‘communal riots’.

During an interfaith meeting with Imams and Muezzins at the Netaji Indoor Stadium, she remarked on reports suggesting that some perpetrators had crossed into Bengal from Bangladesh.

She stated, “I saw a news report, quoting Home Ministry sources, saying the perpetrators came from Bangladesh. I have only one question for the Home Ministry. Why these people allowed to enter Bengal? The border is not our responsibility.”

The violence, which stemmed from protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, resulted in three deaths, including that of a teenager.

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