New Delhi, July 25 (UNI) The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday confirmed that Bangladesh has officially conveyed its objection to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s statement offering shelter to people affected by the violent anti-quota protests in the neighbouring country.
“I can confirm that we have received a diplomatic note from the Bangladeshi side, protesting against the comments made by the Chief Minister of West Bengal,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a briefing here.
“I would like to underline that under the Seventh Schedule, Union List I, Item No. 10 of our Constitution, the conduct of foreign affairs and all matters which bring the Union into the relation with any foreign country are the sole prerogative of the Union government,” he added.
Addressing a Martyrs’ Day event in Kolkata, the West Bengal CM had said that she would not hesitate to provide shelter to the “helpless people” coming from the neighbouring country and seeking refuge in her state.
She referred to the United Nations resolution on refugees to justify her statement.
“If helpless people come knocking on the doors of Bengal, we will surely provide them shelter,” she said.
Bangladesh was hit by country-wide violent protests against the 30 pc quota in jobs for families of 1971 war veterans. Around 100 people are reported to have died in the clashes with security forces, and many more injured. The Bangladesh government subsequently scaled down the quota percentage to five, in deference to the popular protests.
