New Delhi, Aug 20 (UNI) India today rejected allegations by Dhaka’s interim government accusing India of allowing anti-Bangladesh activities by members of the Awami League on its soil.
In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the Indian government does not allow political activities against other countries to be carried out from Indian soil.
The spokesperson also said that India hopes that free, fair and inclusive elections will be held at the earliest in Bangladesh “to ascertain the will and mandate of the people”.
The statement read:
“The Government of India is not aware of any anti-Bangladesh activities by purported members of the Awami League in India or of any action that is contrary to Indian law. The Government does not allow political activities against other countries to be carried out from Indian soil.
“The Press Statement by the Interim Government of Bangladesh is thus misplaced.
“India reiterates its expectation that free, fair and inclusive elections will be held at the earliest in Bangladesh to ascertain the will and mandate of the people.”
India’s reaction came after the Bangladesh interim government called on New Delhi “to take urgent measures to prevent any Bangladeshi nationals residing there from engaging in activities harmful to Bangladesh’s interests”.
The interim government also urged the Indian government not to permit or support any such activities in any manner and called for immediate closure of the political office(s) of the “banned” Bangladesh Awami League on Indian soil, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday.
The ministry said the attention of Dhaka has been drawn to the reported establishment of offices of the ‘banned’ Awami League in New Delhi and Kolkata.
This development comes against the backdrop of “growing anti-Bangladesh activities undertaken by the leadership of the Bangladesh Awami League from being based on the Indian soil”, Dhaka claimed.
Many of the senior leaders of the party, absconding in several criminal cases in Bangladesh on account of grievous crimes committed against humanity, remain in the Indian territory, said the interim government.
“Any form of political activity campaigning against the interests of Bangladesh by Bangladeshi nationals, particularly by the absconding leaders/activists of a banned political party, staying on Indian soil, legally or illegally, including the establishment of offices is an unambiguous affront against the people and State of Bangladesh,” said the interim government in Dhaka in a statement.
Dhaka’s reaction comes in the aftermath of India’s unresponsiveness to its persistent request for the extradition of former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, who is living in New Delhi in exile since she fled her country on August 5 last year in the face of a so-called student-led mass movement against her.
