New Delhi: Bangladeshis would rather swim in the ocean and reach Italy than come to India, the country’s outgoing envoy to New Delhi, Syed Muazzem Ali, said in a farewell speech. The Hindu reported Wednesday that Ali said the per capita income in India “is not that high”.
His statement comes as India’s political discourse finds itself increasingly polarised by the BJP’s bid to eject illegal Bangladeshi immigrants from the country.
Assam’s National Register of Citizens (NRC) is an exercise in this direction, and seeks to expel immigrants who came to India after 1971. Home Minister Amit Shah, who has referred to illegal immigrants as “termites” more than once, said in Parliament Wednesday that there will be an NRC for the entire country.
‘Issue used during elections’
Speaking at the Press Club of India Tuesday, Ali said the issue of illegal immigration was used during the Indian elections.
“There has been so much criticism of Bangladesh in Northeast India because of alleged illegal immigration from our side… ,” he added. “But let me tell you that a person of my country would rather swim in the ocean and reach Italy instead of coming to India. A citizen of Bangladesh would like to go to a place where he can earn more, but as you know the per capita income in India is not that high,” The Hindu quoted him as having said.
Economically, Bangladesh is reportedly pegged on stronger footing than India. The Asian Development Bank (ADB), in its October 2019 report, revised Bangladesh’s GDP growth for 2019 from 8 per cent to 8.1 per cent. The forecast for India, meanwhile, was revised from 7.2 to 6.5 per cent.
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USA is doing the same to the Illegal Indians who stay there. UK/EU is on the same path.
Leaders of the third world countries find two policies easy to use and find themselves in a comfortable position, and these are 1. religion 2. blaming the poor. They have no idea how economic improvement is vital for a poor country. Millions of illegal Indians and Bangladeshi living in foreign countries for a better life. and these Small-minded stuck in a situation where there is no way out.
How about India meddling in Bangladesh’s internal affairs? placing puppet government in the nation, destroying the economy with policies and deals that only serve Indian interests (recent water sharing agreement), opening dams whenever they please resulting in floods in bangladesh to destroying Sunderbans? Why doesn’t Indian media ever mention that Bangladesh is the 5th largest source of remittance for them? NRC is a motivated ploy against Muslims, nothing else and India is just a bully.
If you are not motivated by Racism, & really believe in the principles of NRC, then, first of all, set an example by calling back all illegal Indian from Europe, America, & rest of the world. Then, carry out your NRC. You will get support from all over the world
It is good to see resurgence of pride among Bangladeshi. Good for them that they have improved their economy.
Yes they can swim to Italy but they didnt do it 1971 but streamed to India. Yes India’s per capita income is low so please convey the message home to your countrymen. Legally they are welcome but illegally I dont think their quality of life improves any further. We want Bangladeshis to prosper be it India or Italy or at home.It helps us also.
As per chaiwala,Indians were ashamed of India. Since he took over, India is respected and proud. As PM he can bad mouth the country as long as he praises himself. What a joke.
What ever the case may be.Any body can go to any conuntry with legal means.NRC is to weed out the illegal people who have been infiltrating into India not because of economic condtions in Bangla desh,but also due to other reasons. The bangal desh ambasodor,looks like , wants India to allow bangla deshi people to migrate India illegally?? He is out of his minds. Whether India is better or bangla desh is better financially is a moot point.No illegal migration to India pl. Now ,if bangla desh is better economically,will it allow Indians to migrate to bangal desh illegally? Obiviously not.Indians will surely go to bangla desh if it has opportunities for emplyoment ,business etc. it is as normal as that,with legal doc.only. There are lumpen elements in Bangla desh,represented by this ambasodor,who think it is their birht right to infiltrate into India illegally!Let this not finally end into bangla desh being part of India.
Humans have always migrated for better life. Even the brahmins who are not allowed to cross the sea go anywhere for better life conveniently ignoring the faith whenever it doesn’t suit them.
You are most welcome to take back all persons who stayed back in India after 1971 war. These are the people who came as refugees and never returned. India has done lot for Bangladesh independence. Your military is working against Indian interest and minority Hindu, like Khaleda Zia. Also many a times your government sides with China against India.
Bangladesh gdp per capita is much more better than India. Indian people are so poor that they don’t have even a good sanitation. You Indian people are famous in the world for doing sanitation in the street.
If that is the case, I hope than he can ask his leader to take their illegal people back. The numbers are huge.
There is a good chance that in another 5 years Bangladesh will overtake India in per capita income.
All the Bangladeshis in Calcutta must have migrated from Japan.
His Excellency is entitled to a spot of candour after being diplomatic all through his distinguished tenure.
One will understand the logic of Bangladeshis yearning to come to India when Indians stop yearning of migrating to the US, Canada and the UK. Presently, just like every Punjabi family would have at least one relative in Canada, it won’t be surprising if a Bangladeshi has at least one relative in the UK, if not the US or Canada.