West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has called for the deployment of United Nations peacekeeping forces in Bangladesh in response to escalating violence and attacks on Hindu minorities.
Addressing the West Bengal Assembly, Mamata condemned the attacks and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take action.
“We condemn atrocities of any kind, irrespective of caste, creed, or religion. I also suggest that the UN send a peacekeeping team to Bangladesh. Either the prime minister or the external affairs minister should engage with Bangladesh,” Mamata said.
Mamata criticized the Indian government’s silence over the past ten days and highlighted the need for immediate action.
She also pointed out the detention of 79 Indian fishermen by Bangladeshi authorities and called for their release.
The Indian government has expressed concern over the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a former leader of the Hindu spiritual organization Iskcon, and the ongoing violence against Hindu minorities.
India has urged Bangladesh to address the issue and ensure the safety of its citizens.
Mamata proposed that West Bengal could offer shelter to persecuted Indians if needed, emphasizing the importance of maintaining harmony and fostering cordial relations among communities in Bangladesh.
She also called on the external affairs minister to make a statement in parliament regarding India’s stance on the situation in Bangladesh.
However, BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya criticized Mamata’s comments, particularly her omission of the term “Hindus” while discussing the persecution of Indians in Bangladesh.
In a post on X, Malviya wrote: “Mamata Banerjee says, ‘If required, we can rehabilitate Indians attacked in Bangladesh. We have no problem sharing our ‘one roti’ with them.’ She doesn’t use the word Hindus. This explains her opposition to the CAA, which was meant to give dignity to Bengali refugees, most of them Hindus, fleeing religious persecution. India will take care of all Indians around the world. We don’t need a chief minister for it.”