West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has issued a strong rebuttal to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) following its criticism of her comments regarding the provision of shelter to people from violence-hit Bangladesh. The dispute has arisen after Bangladesh lodged a formal protest with India over Banerjee’s statements.
In a fiery response on Friday, Banerjee defended her position, asserting her experience and knowledge of federal structures and foreign policy. “I know the federal structure very well. I was an MP seven times and a Union minister twice. I know the MEA policy very well. They shouldn’t teach me a lesson; they should learn from the system instead,” Banerjee said.
Her comments came after a speech at the annual Martyrs’ Day rally of her Trinamool Congress (TMC) party in Kolkata on July 21, where she expressed willingness to offer shelter to people fleeing violence in Bangladesh. “I should not be speaking on the affairs of Bangladesh as it is a sovereign nation. But I can tell you this, if helpless people come knocking on the doors of Bengal, we will surely provide them shelter,” Banerjee stated, citing a United Nations resolution supporting the accommodation of refugees in neighboring regions.
The remarks have sparked controversy amid ongoing student-led anti-quota protests in Bangladesh, which have turned violent. Dr. Hasan Mahmud, Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Minister, expressed concern that Banerjee’s statements might cause ‘confusion’ and ‘mislead’ the public. He revealed that Bangladesh has formally protested to the Indian government regarding the issue.
The MEA has also weighed in, with spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasizing that the conduct of foreign affairs is exclusively within the purview of the Union government. “According to the list of subject matters allocated to the central government under the 7th Schedule of the Constitution, the conduct of foreign affairs and all matters which bring the Union into relation with any foreign country are the sole prerogatives of the Union government,” Jaiswal said during a press briefing.
Sources By Agencies