West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday made a bold appeal, urging the central government to involve the United Nations in deploying a peacekeeping mission to Bangladesh. Banerjee cited the ongoing turmoil in the neighboring country, marked by alleged atrocities on Hindus and other minorities, as the catalyst for her demand.
Banerjee also called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi to personally intervene and ensure the safe return of persecuted Indians stranded in Bangladesh. The chief minister emphasized the need for immediate diplomatic action to address the escalating tensions and humanitarian crisis.
Demand For Prime Minister’s Direct Involvement
Speaking in the West Bengal Assembly, Mamata Banerjee underlined the gravity of the situation and insisted that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar or even the Prime Minister himself should make an official statement in Parliament. “The statement from the EAM should come during the ongoing winter session, if PM Modi is unavailable to do the job himself,” she declared.
Highlighting the plight of minorities in Bangladesh, Banerjee referred to reports of Hindu priests being arrested and alleged atrocities on other vulnerable groups. She argued that the Indian government’s silence over the past ten days has worsened the situation.
Appeal To The United Nations
The West Bengal CM proposed an extraordinary measure, suggesting that the United Nations deploy an international peacekeeping force in Bangladesh to stabilize the situation. “If required, let an international peacekeeping force be sent to Bangladesh after talking to the (interim) government there to help them restore normalcy,” she said.
Banerjee’s remarks were based on testimonies from individuals in West Bengal with relatives in Bangladesh, conversations with ISKCON representatives, and her own observations of escalating tensions.
Call For Rehabilitation Of Persecuted Indians
Mamata Banerjee expressed her willingness to offer shelter to persecuted Indians fleeing from Bangladesh. “If required, we can rehabilitate the Indians attacked in Bangladesh. We have no problem sharing our ‘one roti’ with them if the need arises. There will be no shortage of food for them,” she said, reinforcing her commitment to humanitarian values.
Banerjee also stressed the importance of maintaining harmony between all communities in Bangladesh and fostering cordial relations worldwide.
Fishermen Detention Adds To Diplomatic Concerns
The Chief Minister did not shy away from raising another pressing issue – the continued detention of 79 Indian fishermen in Bangladeshi custody. Banerjee accused the central government of inaction, recalling how India ensured the safe return of Bangladeshi fishermen who had accidentally entered Indian waters.
“Our fishermen still remain in their captivity and are yet to be released. When the Bangladesh fishermen had entered into our waters, we ensured their safe return,” she said, pointing to a lack of reciprocity.
Criticism Of Central Government’s Inaction
In a scathing attack on the central government, Banerjee accused it of “remaining mum for the past 10 days” despite the worsening crisis in Bangladesh. She criticized the BJP’s leadership for failing to address the issue proactively.
“Why don’t they ask their central leadership to pursue the Centre to proactively intervene in the Bangladesh situation? Instead, their leaders are demanding closure of goods movement along our land borders,” she said, taking a veiled jab at the BJP.
Banerjee also clarified that halting the movement of goods across the India-Bangladesh border was not within the state’s purview. “As per international border agreements, stoppage of commodity movement is not in our hands. We can act only as per guidelines issued by the Centre,” she added.
A Vision For Diplomatic Harmony
Mamata Banerjee concluded her appeal by reiterating her hope for peace and stability in Bangladesh. She emphasized the need for diplomatic efforts to foster goodwill and harmony across borders while ensuring the safety and well-being of persecuted minorities.
As tensions simmer in Bangladesh, Banerjee’s call for UN intervention and PM Modi’s direct involvement has added a new dimension to India’s approach toward its neighboring country. The onus now lies on the central government to address these concerns and take decisive action.