Bangladesh Takes Offence Against Mamata Bannerjee’s Shelter Comments, Says MEA

On Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs has recently claimed that India had gotten a ‘diplomatic note’ from Dhaka.

It has ‘protested’ recent ‘shelter’ comments made by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Bannerjee.

Issuing a weekly press briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said ‘I can confirm that we have received a diplomatic note, a communication from the Bangladesh side protesting the comments made by the West Bengal CM. It is essentially on the lines described in the reports.’

Furthermore, citing the 7th schedule of the constitution, the spokesperson of MEA Randhir Jaiswal emphasized that foreign or international matters are the ‘sole prerogative’ of central government.

Elaborating his point, he said ‘I would underline that under the 7th Schedule, List 1 – Union List, Item 10, of our Constitution, the conduct of foreign affairs and all matters which bring the Union into relation with any foreign country are the sole prerogative of the Union government.’

Mamata Bannerjee Comments

For those unversed, just last week, West Bengal CM Mamata Bannerjee recently made a statement saying that her government will give ‘shelter’ to ‘helpless individuals’ from neighbouring Bangladesh who demand refuge. This statement came around the time, when protests against quota is currently taking place.

Later, while attending martyr’s day in Kolkata she said ‘Don’t worry if any of your family members or relatives are in Bangladesh for work or study. We’re ready to help them return back.’

Moreover, she also added that she can’t say much as Bangladesh is a different country and whatever will be said, it will be said by the Indian government.

But notably the TMC head also emphasized that if ‘helpless individuals’ come towards Bengal, they’ll provide shelter because United Nations mandated resolution allows neighbouring countries to help those in trouble.

Afterward she said ‘I urge everyone not to comment on Bangladesh (issue), to avoid falling into provocations. We feel compassion and sympathy for those whose blood is shed’.

Protests In Bangladesh

Meanwhile, Bangladesh is currently witnessing huge protests for the reformation of quota systems. In this system, seats in civil government jobs are reserved for a particular group. This group also includes descendants of 1971 war veterans.

Due to the ongoing protests, it has resulted in the fatalities of around 100 people. But currently, Bangladesh’s supreme court has taken matters into their hands. It has reduced the quota for war veterans from 30 percent to 5 percent.

In addition, it has left allocation of seats to the merit and the rest 2% will be reserved for minority communities, disabled and transgender people. Reports Al-Jazeera.