Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced on Sunday that the Trinamool Congress-led state government is prepared to offer shelter to individuals from violence-stricken Bangladesh if they seek refuge in India.
Addressing a large ‘Martyrs’ Day’ rally of the Trinamool Congress in Kolkata amidst heavy rain, Banerjee stated, “I cannot comment on Bangladesh as it is a separate nation and will be addressed by the Indian government. However, if helpless people from Bangladesh come knocking on Bengal’s doors, we will provide them with shelter. There is a UN resolution on the matter, and neighboring countries should respect the rights of refugees.”
Banerjee also assured support for Bengal residents with relatives affected by the violence in Bangladesh. “I assure all cooperation to Bengal residents whose relatives are trapped in violence-hit Bangladesh,” she added.
In her speech, Banerjee praised Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav for his party’s performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh. She also criticized the central government, suggesting its tenure is unstable and will not last long. “The central government will not last much longer. This is not a stable government and will collapse soon,” Banerjee remarked.
She further criticized the Uttar Pradesh government, stating, “The ‘Khel’ (game) played in UP should have led to the BJP government’s resignation, but the shameless government remains in power through misuse of agencies and other tactics.”
The crisis in Bangladesh has seen the imposition of a strict curfew and military patrols in Dhaka following violent protests over government job allocations, resulting in over 40 deaths and hundreds of injuries.
