NEW DELHI: The situation in Bangladesh has become a concern for not just the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal but also with members of the ruling BJP at the Centre.
If BJP members sought the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed their concern in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress party has also stated that the Prime Minister should consult with Banerjee on the issue as the state shares the longest border with the neighbouring country and is apprehensive of a potential spillover of refugees from across the border, which could pose a challenge for both Bengal and the country.
TMC leader in Lok Sabha Sudip Bandopadhyay said here on Wednesday that “we want the Prime Minister to speak with the Bengal chief minister, since it is a matter of grave concern for the state government. Even as it is a bilateral issue with Bangladesh and the state government is on the same page as that of the Centre on the Bangladesh issue, it is important to take Mamata Banerjee on board in the matter just as it was done for the Teesta water or Land-Border Agreement between the two countries,” since Bengal is a stakeholder on any issue with Bangladesh.
In Lok Sabha, at BJP members expressed their concern and sought the intervention of PM Modi in the release of Iskcon monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, who has been jailed in Bangladesh on charges of sedition.
Ujjain MP Anil Firojiya raised the issue during Zero Hour and said no lawyers were available in Bangladesh and one who was ready to represent him was battling for life (since he was attacked).
BJP member from Mathura, Hema Malini, said that insult to religion, violence and injustice cannot be tolerated. “We cannot be silent. This is not an issue of diplomacy, but linked to our emotions and devotion to Shri Krishna,” she said, hoping that the Bangladesh government would release the Iskcon monk.
BJP MP Dilip Saikia, from Darrang-Udalguri in Assam, wanted the Parliament to adopt a resolution to send a message to the Bangladesh government for a complete halt to the atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh.
