Bangladesh’s “Minority” Comment Over Bengal, India Replies “Focus On.”
The Ministry Of External Affairs attacked Bangladesh for denouncing the violence in West Bengal, terming Dhaka's statement as "unwarranted comments.".
India has criticized Bangladesh’s comment on the violence in West Bengal’s Murshidabad during protests against the Waqf law amendments. Condemning Dhaka’s “unwarranted remarks” and “virtue signalling”, Delhi has urged its eastern neighbour to concentrate on safeguarding the minorities in its nation.
Denying purported efforts of its involvement in the violence erupted on April 8, Bangladesh’s press secretary Shafiqul Alam had stated, “We call upon the Government of India and West Bengal to take all measures to fully safeguard the minority Muslim community.”
Reacting, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated Bangladesh’s response is a “barely disguised and disingenuous attempt to equate it with India’s concern regarding the continued persecution of minorities in Bangladesh where criminal perpetrators of these crimes walk free”.
In addition to this, India retaliated against Bangladesh, requesting the nation to concentrate on the protection of rights of its own minorities. The statement gained relevance as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told the Parliament last month that 2,400 cases of atrocities against religious minorities were present in Bangladesh in 2024 since the political unrest started and that the tally is 72 in 2025 till now.
The Centre’s response comes on a day West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose made an official announcement of a visit to violence-struck Murshidabad, stating his determination to “impose peace at any cost.”
Chief Minister Banerjee, even as she claimed normalcy was slowly coming back, requested the Governor to delay his visit.
According to a state report, the protests on April 4 were peaceful in police station areas of Jangipur but turned violent on April 8 when a 5,000-strong mob obstructed NH-12 at Umarpur. The police were allegedly attacked with bricks, iron rods, sharp weapons, and firebombs. Government vehicles were also targeted.
A new spate of violence erupted on April 11 in Suti and Samsherganj involving damage to government and private properties. The police confirmed firing shots at Sajur More at Suti in self-defense to save both civilians and police officials.
Police arrested 278 persons till now throughout Murshidabad
