New Delhi: In a fresh diplomatic spat, Bangladesh has strongly protested what it says were “deplorable remarks” made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah about its nationals at rallies in poll-bound Jharkhand.
Bangladesh also handed over a protest note Monday to the Deputy High Commissioner of India in Dhaka.
Speaking at several election rallies last week, Shah said the BJP “will hang every infiltrator upside down to teach them a lesson” if elected to power in the state. He also warned the population that “infiltrators” would soon exceed the state’s tribal population.
Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a Facebook post it had “conveyed its serious reservation, deep sense of hurt and extreme displeasure” to the Indian side. “The Ministry also emphasised that such remarks, coming from responsible positions against the nationals of a neighbouring country, undermine the spirit of mutual respect and understanding between two friendly countries,” it added.
The Bangladesh foreign ministry called on the Indian government “to advise political leaders to refrain from making such objectionable and unacceptable remarks”.
On 20 September in Sahibganj, Shah had said, “If you bring the lotus government (BJP) to power, we will hang the infiltrators upside down to teach them a lesson.” He also asked the crowd: “Does this land belong to our tribals or Rohingya and Bangladeshi infiltrators?”
हेमंत सोरेन सरकार में आदिवासी बेटियों का बलात्कार हो रहा है, पुलिस कस्टडी में आदिवासी युवाओं की मौत हो रही है, लेकिन वोट बैंक के डर से हेमंत सोरेन कुछ नहीं बोलते। pic.twitter.com/IiLep08pSP
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) September 20, 2024
At another rally in Giridih, he said, “If the infiltration in Jharkhand continues the way it is going, infiltrators will be a majority in the next 25-30 years.”
झारखंड में यदि इसी तरह घुसपैठ चलता रहा, तो आने वाले 25-30 सालों में घुसपैठिए बहुसंख्यक हो जाएँगे। pic.twitter.com/6GUVwpOoni
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) September 20, 2024
Jaishankar meets Bangladeshi counterpart
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Bangladesh foreign affairs advisor Md. Touhid Hossain in New York Monday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
The two sides did not give details on the nature of the discussions.
Had a meeting with Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain of Bangladesh in New York this evening.
The conversation focussed on our bilateral ties. pic.twitter.com/UNtNyHGHyQ
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 24, 2024
It was the first high-profile meeting between the two countries since widespread protests led to the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August. Hasina has remained in India since she fled Dhaka. An interim government, led by Nobel laureate Mohammed Yunus, has been given the charge of conducting an orderly transition to the next regime.
Ahead of the meeting, Hossain had said there was “a certain level of tension in our relations with India”. “There may also be cases when Bangladesh does not like many comments from India. This is not a major issue. We cannot change our neighbours but can only coexist with a good relationship,” Hossain told the media.
After Hasina’s ouster, India raised concerns over the attacks on Hindus and other minorities in the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also brought up the issue with Yunus in a call. While committing to the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities in Bangladesh, Yunus said the reports of the attacks were exaggerated.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
Also read: Infiltrators vote bank of RJD, Cong, JMM in J’khand: Shah
Shah seems to be working for China. Chinese would be very happy with the growing tensions.