Mamata's statement is a threat to independence and sovereignty: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's statement on Bangladesh is a threat to independence and sovereignty. He demanded that such statements be withdrawn immediately.
The BNP Secretary General gave this reaction on behalf of the party to the media on mobile phone from London on Monday (December 2) afternoon.
The false story being spread in the Indian media about the deterioration of communal harmony in Bangladesh is unacceptable, said the BNP Secretary General. He said, we have said repeatedly, Indian journalists came here, they also saw... There is no such situation in Bangladesh. However, the way the Indian media and their leaders are spreading a complete lie and threatening the independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh, the people of Bangladesh will in no way accept it.
He said, I saw a news in some newspapers this morning that I cannot refrain from commenting on the statement made by the Chief Minister of West Bengal, India, about Bangladesh. The statement she (Mamata Banerjee) made about sending UN peace keeping forces to Bangladesh… is completely a threat to the independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh and we think that the view of the leaders has been revealed to some extent through this statement.
Mirza Fakhrul said, Mamata Banerjee should immediately withdraw this statement. No such thought should even come to her mind. Because, the people of Bangladesh became independent through the Liberation War and recently they got democracy back through a revolution. The people of this country will stop such a conspiracy at any cost.
Earlier on Monday, Mamata Banerjee said in the West Bengal Assembly, our proposal is that the Center should request the United Nations to send peace keeping forces to Bangladesh. She also said that she will give a written proposal in this regard to the Central government.
The Chief Minister of West Bengal said, for the last 10 days, I see that the Central government is silent. Her party (BJP) is holding processions every day. It is threatening to close the border. It is saying that it will not provide food. This is not within our jurisdiction. We want the Prime Minister or the Foreign Minister to talk. Let the two countries talk. If nothing happens, the Centre should send the Indians back. We can provide food.
Regarding the allegations of attacks on minorities, Mamata said, it is the matter of the Ministry of External Affairs. It is not our matter. But it is also true that many of our friends and relatives are in Bangladesh. No matter what religion, caste or nationality people are attacked, we condemn it. We want peace to be ensured. A resolution should be taken from this meeting that our friends should not be tortured.
Regarding the disrespect of the Indian flag in Bangladesh, the Chief Minister said, the disrespect of the national flag is not acceptable. I have also spoken to ISKCON. Regarding the 79 fishermen from West Bengal being imprisoned in Bangladeshi jails, Mamata Banerjee said that they are being provided legal assistance; she has spoken to the Central government on the matter.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and some Hindutva organizations have already started agitations in West Bengal and various parts of North-East India over allegations of attacks on minorities in Bangladesh. Mamata Banerjee today proposed sending UN peace keeping forces after the CPI(M) Politburo expressed concern over the security of minorities in Bangladesh on November 28.