No religion should be harmed: Mamata on Bangladesh violence
Times of India | 29 November 2024
12 Kolkata: No religion should be harmed and any incident ending in violence "because of religion" was condemnable, Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said on Thursday while reacting to the persecution of Hindus and other religious minorities in neighbouring Bangladesh.
Banerjee, speaking to reporters after returning from Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren's swearing-in ceremony in Ranchi on Thursday afternoon, said she was saddened by the events there. But the Bengal administration and her party had a "limited role in this", she added, hoping the centre would speak to Bangladesh to end the turmoil. "We will back whatever decision the Centre takes," she said.
"India and Bangladesh are two separate nations. But we are saddened by what has happened there. Lives were lost in the past, too, including students'. This has been happening for the past one year," Banerjee said.
"The Centre can talk to Bangladesh and resolve this. Our party has a stand on issues relating to external affairs: we support the Centre's stand," the Bengal CM said while making her displeasure clear about a few issues: "The Centre has a different perspective on a particular religion and is vindictive towards one religion. That, too, is wrong. Temples, mosques, gurdwaras must co-exist. We are also not consulted on these issues (relating to Bangladesh). Even the Teesta (water-sharing) agreement was completed keeping us in the dark. But we love Bangladesh and I am sure they love India and Bengal. We share the same language and customs. We hope peace prevails." Banerjee, earlier on Thursday, told the state assembly that she had spoken to Iskcon monks here and stressed that "no religion should be harmed".
Trinamool MP Saugata Roy, who was in Delhi, said Hindus being subjected to atrocities in Bangladesh was a matter of grave concern. "The govt should actively intervene in the matter," he said.
Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh, while condemning the continuing cycle of violence in Bangladesh, also slammed Bengal BJP for taking advantage of the situation and disrupting life in Kolkata. "Bangladesh is a very important and sensitive issue. But, as our party leadership has already said, it is a Union (external affairs) ministry matter. BJP, by taking out rallies like the one on Thursday to disturb peace in Bengal, is diluting the importance and the gravity of the subject. One cannot become a monk just by wearing saffron. Slogans like "juto maro (thrash them with shoes)" were heard during Thursday's march. When have you heard monks raising such slogans? This is a BJP ploy to disturb peace in the state by using religious politics," he said, adding: "The main issues are protection for minorities and protest against atrocities. But how can people wearing saffron attack police and break barricades? This is BJP hiding behind a handful of people wearing saffron to gain political mileage. It was an out-and-out political rally."
All-India Secular Front (AISF) MLA Nawsad Siddique, too, condemned the turn of events in Bangladesh. "Whatever is happening in Bangladesh is not desirable at all. We are getting information about atrocities on minorities there. This should stop immediately," he said.