New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar Tuesday told an all-party meeting that the Indian government has not yet discussed the issue of political asylum with Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh, as it wants her to first “recover from the state of shock” before discussing the next course of action, ThePrint has learnt.
Following the meeting, which was attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi among others, Jaishankar posted on X that the government appreciates the “unanimous support and understanding that was extended” by opposition parties on the issue.
Sources present in the meeting said Rahul asked Jaishankar about the possibility of a foreign hand in the crisis in Bangladesh that forced Hasina to flee the country Monday. “The minister responded saying that the Centre was tracking the unfolding developments but it was too early to comment on any foreign hand,” a source present in the meeting said.
Jaishankar also fielded a question at the meeting on whether the Centre had discussed the issue of political asylum with Hasina. “A leader asked whether Hasina will be granted political asylum going forward. Jainshakar said the government is yet to have a conversation with her on the issue of political asylum as it would not be appropriate to have that discussion at this moment when she is clearly scarred by the sudden developments,” a source said.
“Whenever she is ready to discuss the issue, the government will take it on. But she has not broached the matter yet. The government of India is waiting for her to express her thoughts on the future course of action that she has on her mind,” the source quoted Jaishanakr as having told the leaders who attended the all-party meeting.
Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha MP Sudip Bandopadhyay, who represented his party in the meeting, told reporters that the TMC extended its support to the Centre on its handling of the fallout of the crisis in Bangladesh, with which West Bengal shares a long boundary. “We just requested the Centre to keep West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in loop,” Bandopadhyay said.
The meeting was also attended by Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda, JD(U) leader and Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, BJD Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra, DMK leader T. R. Baalu, SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav, JD(S) leader and Union Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy, NCP leader Supriya Sule among others.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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