India has firmly dismissed Bangladesh’s remarks concerning the violence in West Bengal related to the Waqf law, calling them “disingenuous” and a deliberate distraction from the ongoing persecution of minorities within Bangladesh itself.
Responding to Dhaka’s comments, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal urged Bangladesh to prioritize safeguarding the rights of its own minority communities instead of issuing “unwarranted” statements on India’s internal matters.
“We reject the remarks made by the Bangladesh side with regard to the incidents in West Bengal. 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,” MEA spokesperson Jaiswal said in a statement.
“Instead of making unwarranted comments and indulging in virtue signaling, Bangladesh would do better to focus on protecting the rights of its own minorities,” Jaiswal added.
On April 17, the press secretary to Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus urged Indian authorities to ensure the safety of minority Muslim communities impacted by the recent violence in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district, which left three people dead and hundreds injured.
Violence erupted last week in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district during a protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Act. The unrest quickly spread to other districts, including Malda, South 24 Parganas, and Hooghly, resulting in incidents of arson, stone-pelting, and widespread road blockades.
