ndia on Friday rejected remarks by Bangladeshi officials on violence in West Bengal and asked Dhaka to focus on protecting the rights of its minorities instead of indulging in “virtue signalling”.
“We reject the remarks made by the Bangladesh side with regard to the incidents in West Bengal,” Ministry of External Affairs(MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
“This is a barely disguised and disingenuous attempt to draw a parallel with India’s concerns over the ongoing persecution of minorities in Bangladesh where the criminal perpetrators of such acts continue to roam free,” he said.
Jaiswal was responding to media queries regarding comments made by Bangladesh officials on the developments in West Bengal.
“Instead of making unwarranted comments and indulging in virtue signalling, Bangladesh would do better to focus on protecting the rights of its own minorities,” he said.
The sharp reaction came after Shafiqul Alam, the Press Secretary to Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, on Thursday called on New Delhi and the West Bengal government to take “all steps to fully protect the minority Muslim population”. “We condemn attacks on Muslims that caused loss of lives and properties,” he had said. “We urge the Governments of India and West Bengal to take all steps to fully protect the minority Muslim population,” Alam had added.
Some parts of West Bengal, including Murshidabad, witnessed sectarian violence in the past few days following protests by the Muslim community against the Waqf (Amendment) Act.
There has been a sharp downturn in India-Bangladesh relations after deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled Dhaka last August in the face of a massive anti-government protest.
The relations nosedived dramatically after the interim government headed by Yunus failed to contain attacks on minorities, especially Hindus, in that country.
The situation in Bangladesh has been volatile after Hasina’s ouster last year. There have been multiple attacks on Hindus and minorities in Bangladesh by radical Islamists. Around 200 temples have been vandalised and priests have been arrested.
India has frequently raised concerns at various diplomatic levels about the condition of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh has often denied allegations of targeted persecution of minorities. However, recent incidents, including the desecration of Hindu temples and attacks during religious festivals, have drawn sharp criticism from human rights groups and diaspora communities.