Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee Sunday declared that the state will give shelter to anyone who knocks on its doors in distress, in the backdrop of violent protests in neighbouring Bangladesh.
Addressing TMC’s annual Martyrs’ Day rally in Kolkata, she said, citing a “UN resolution”: “I should not be speaking on the affairs of Bangladesh since it is another country and whatever needs to be said on the issue is a subject matter for the Centre. But I can say, oshohaye manush jodi Banglar dorja khot khotani kore, amra tader ashroy nishchoi debo (if helpless people knock on Bengal’s doors, we will definitely give them shelter).”
Citing a “UN resolution”, she added that if someone becomes a refugee, nearby regions should help them.
The CM used the example of Assamese people taking refuge in North Bengal’s Alipurduar district in 2014 to escape Bodo militants, and claimed to have visited them herself.
“We are sad to see blood getting spilt. We are watching the news and our heart goes out to the young students who were killed,” she further said. “I urge everyone, we should not step into any provocation or unrest related to Bangladesh.”
Later in the day, she posted on X saying the Bengal administration will provide all assistance to Indian nationals returning to the state from Bangladesh amid the violence.
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
Bangladesh has seen a week of violent protests over a quota system for public sector jobs, in which over a hundred people have been killed and several others injured. The country’s Supreme Court Sunday reduced the controversial quota for families of veterans who fought the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, lowering it from 30 percent to 5 percent.
‘She wants to turn Bengal into Greater Bangladesh’
Speaking to the media, BJP MP Saumitra Khan said Mamata’s remarks made it seem like she was ushering a “Greater Bangladesh”, and the BJP would not allow that at any cost. “We know why Mamata Banerjee did not want to allow CAA in West Bengal, her vote bank will dip. And BJP is clear, we will not allow Rohingyas in the country till we are alive. She wants to make Bengal into Greater Bangladesh. I hope the BSF is on high alert at the border.”
Speaking to ThePrint, TMC MP Sudip Bandopadhyay said Mamata shares cordial ties with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and if required she can also telephone her.
Political analyst Udayan Bandopadhyay said, “Indira Gandhi allowed refugees of erstwhile East Pakistan and the intellectuals like Sunil Gangopadhyay and others welcomed it. Now the situation is different. Mamata Banerjee has uttered two sentences simultaneously. She didn’t want to make any comment on the situation of Bangladesh, as that relates to an issue of the neighbouring country and that doesn’t fall under the purview of a CM.”
He further said: “Having said that, she has opined that if refugees are willing to take shelter, we are ready. Now let the leaders of BJP oppose this. While justifying CAA they also cite this logic of the United Nations that an evicted neighbour should be treated as refugee, not intruder.”
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
Also read: TV news off air, communications disrupted amidst student protests in Bangladesh
What an absolutely horrifying situation. A sitting CM doesnt care about security at all. Will oppose citizenship for non muslims. But will completely open borders. It’s upto the bengalis now. They will single handedly ensure entire India’s downfall. The state that lit the spark of india’s freedom struggle has come to this.