'If Helpless People Come Knocking...': Mamata's Shelter Offer Amid Bangladesh Protests Draws BJP Ire

In wake of the escalating violence in Bangladesh, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday said that she would offer shelter for people in distress from the neighbouring country. She also said that she would keep the doors of her state open for people in distress from the neighbouring country.

The TMC supremo referred to the United Nations Resolution on refugees as justification for her stand over the possible humanitarian crisis that may emerge on account of the severe law and order breakdown that has gripped Bangladesh over the past few days.

While addressing the Martyrs Day’ rally of the TMC in Kolkata, Banerjee said, “I should not be speaking on the affairs of Bangladesh since that is a sovereign nation and whatever needs to be said on the issue is a subject matter of the Centre. But I can tell you this, if helpless people come knocking on the doors of Bengal, we will surely provide them shelter.”

“That’s because there is a United Nations Resolution to accommodate refugees in regions adjacent to those under turmoil,” the Bengal CM added while drawing an example from Assamese people who were allowed to live in Alipurduars area of north Bengal for a considerable period during the Bodo strife in the northeastern state.

She further assured all cooperation to Bengal residents whose relatives may have remained stuck on account of the escalating violence on the eastern side of the international border. She also extended assistance to Bangladeshis who came to Bengal but were facing difficulty in returning home. Banerjee further requested the people of West Bengal to not get provoked over matters concerning the current situation in Bangladesh.

“We should exercise restraint and not walk into any provocation or excitement on the issue,” she said.

The Trinamool Congress supremo also expressed her solidarity with the people who have remained at the receiving end of the ongoing violence in the neighbouring country.

“We are sad to see blood getting spilt and my heart goes out to those students who were killed,” she said.

President of the BJP’s Bengal unit and junior union minister Sukanta Majumdar, however, opined that such matters, involving the country’s foreign policies, should first be consulted with the Centre before any public statement is made.

“It’s true that we are all concerned about the current situation in Bangladesh over which Delhi is keeping a close watch. Our chief minister should not be voicing her opinions on matters involving our country’s foreign policies without first consulting the Centre,” he said.

Violence escalated in the Bangladesh capital Dhaka and elsewhere over student protests demanding reforms of the quota system for government jobs.

The protesters are demanding an end to a quota system that reserves up to 30 per cent of government jobs for relatives of veterans who fought in Bangladesh’s war of independence in 1971 against Pakistan.

‘These Matters Are Handled By Centre,” Says Govt Sources

In response to the comments by West Bengal Chief Minister, government sources said, “These are matters which are handled by the Union Government. A State Government has no locus standi on the issue and as such their comments are totally misplaced.”

(with PTI inputs)