New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government confirmed Thursday that it had received a diplomatic note from Bangladesh, protesting remarks made by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee that she would admit people fleeing the crisis-hit country.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a press briefing that India had received a communication from Bangladesh, while sources said Dhaka had labelled Banerjee’s comments as “provocative” and “misleading”.
The chief minister’s remarks on the deaths of students in the anti-quota stir had particularly irked the Sheikh Hasina government, with Bangladesh underscoring that her comments may invite “terrorists and miscreants” to take advantage of the situation.
At her annual Martyrs’ Day rally in Kolkata on 21 July , Banerjee had said she was sad to see blood being spilt and that her “heart goes out to those students who were killed”.
India has refrained from expressing concern over the situation in Bangladesh, where over 100 people have died in protests against politicsed admission quotas in sought-after government jobs. It has termed the violent outcry an “internal matter” of the neighbouring country, but hoped the situation would soon return to normal.
“I would underline that under the Seventh Schedule, List 1 – Union List, Item 10, of our Constitution, the conduct of foreign affairs and all matters which bring the Union into relation with any foreign country, are the sole prerogative of the Union government,” Jaiswal said.
On Sunday, the Bengal chief minister talked about offering shelter to refugees fleeing the country. “Hundreds of students and others are returning to West Bengal/India from the trouble-torn Bangladesh. I have asked our state administration to render all help and assistance to the returnees,” she wrote on X.
An estimated 6,700 Indian students out of a total of 15,000 nationals in Bangladesh have safely returned to India. Dhaka has provided “excellent cooperation” in this process, according to the MEA spokesperson.
Banerjee had earlier said that around 300 students arrived at Hilli, a checkpoint on the India-Bangladesh border. “Most of them left for their respective destinations safely: 35 of them, however, needed help and we provided them with basic amenities and facilitation assistance. United we stand!” she said in her statement on X.
Hundreds of students and others are returning to West Bengal/ India, from the trouble-torn Bangladesh.
I have asked our State administration to render all help and assistance to the returnees.
For instance, around 300 students arrived at Hilli border today and most of them left…
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) July 21, 2024
The Indian government’s citation of the Constitution’s seventh schedule sought to deliver a strong message to states about their ambit of authority when it came to foreign affairs.
The Seventh Schedule details subjects on the Union List. Item 10 states that foreign affairs and “all matters which bring the Union into relation with any foreign country” are under the ambit of the central government, not states.
The MEA Thursday also cited the Seventh Schedule criticised the Kerala government’s appointment of an IAS officer as secretary in charge of “external cooperation” last week.
“(Foreign affairs) is not a concurrent subject and definitely not a state subject. State governments should not intrude into matters that are beyond their constitutional jurisdiction,” said Jaiswal.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
Also read: After protests, Bangladesh govt to formally accept court’s ruling to lower quotas for state jobs