India has said that it expects that the government in Bangladesh will provide security to the people of the minority community and fulfill their needs.
Randhir Jaiswal, official spokesperson, made the comment while replying to a question in New Delhi at a daily briefing on Friday.
“As you know, when it comes to minorities, we have said multiple times, even at high levels from our side, that the minorities there should be protected. And we expect that the government there will provide security to the people of the minority community and fulfill their needs,” he said.
“Regarding Durga Puja and Dussehra, as I mentioned, incidents of this kind are not right, they are not good,” he said as there were reports of vandalism of idols in Bangladesh.
“The message of Durga Puja is one of happiness and on such occasions, we would like to extend our best wishes to all those celebrating Durga Puja, not only here but in other countries, in every corner of the world. We hope this festival brings prosperity and happiness to everyone's life. That is our wish, and we wish this for all. I would also like to say that when we talk about ensuring the security of minorities, it inherently includes our concerns regarding Durga Puja and Dussehra as well,” he said.
Replying to a question on Bangladesh’s recalling of ambassadors and high commissioners from different countries including India, he said, it is an internal matter of the country.
“In any country, whether it's ours or any other when it comes to ambassadors, we also send ambassadors abroad. It's up to the government to decide. Similarly, it's up to the Bangladesh government they appoint as their ambassador or high commissioner. That is their internal matter,” he said.
“We’ve also seen some reports that they have transferred or recalled some of their ambassadors. This is their internal matter,” he added.
Replying to a question on Bangladesh interim government’s call to revive Saarc, the spokesperson said India attaches “deep importance” to regional cooperation, to regional connectivity.
“Therefore, we have given impetus to Bimstec. On Saarc, as you know, we want to strengthen regional cooperation, but you are well aware of the reason as to why this particular cooperation in that format is not moving forward. One particular country has a particular way of doing things, which is stalling SAARC,” he said, in an oblique reference to Pakistan.
“But as far as regional cooperation is concerned, we attach deep importance to it. You would have seen our approach in it through Bimstec and other platforms that we have,” he said.
