Statements by Bangladesh authorities continue to portray India negatively: India
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said Hasina’s recent comments were made in her own capacity, India had no role
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India today (7 February) summoned Bangladesh's Acting High Commissioner to India Md Nural Islam and said that "recent statements made by Bangladesh authorities portray India negatively."
In response to media queries about the summoning, MEA Spokesperson Shri Randhir Jaiswal said Bangladesh's acting high commissioner was summoned by MEA to the South Block at 5pm today.
"It was conveyed that India desires a positive, constructive and mutually beneficial relationship with Bangladesh, which has been reiterated several times in recent high-level meetings.
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"It is, however, regrettable that regular statements made by Bangladesh authorities continue to portray India negatively, holding us responsible for internal governance issues. These statements by Bangladesh are in fact responsible for the persistent negativity," he said.
"Comments attributed to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina have been made in her individual capacity in which India has no role to play. Conflating this with the Government of India's position is not going to help add positivity to bilateral relations," Jaiswal said.
"While the Government of India will make efforts for a mutually beneficial relationship we expect that Bangladesh will reciprocate similarly without vitiating the atmosphere," he added.
The development follows amid countrywide vandalism targeting establishments and installations linked to Awami League leaders, after Hasina appeared in a virtual session recently where she addressed her party's activists.
The interim government in various statements also said Hasina's provocative statement against the July uprising from India had created deep anger in the public mind, which was expressed through the countrywide vandalism.
Speaking at a press briefing today, the Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad also held India partially responsible for allowing Hasina to make provocative statements.
India also shares responsibility for the recent acts of vandalism across Bangladesh, including Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's residence at Dhanmondi 32, he said.
"Sheikh Hasina, facing genocide charges and an arrest warrant from the International Crimes Tribunal, is inciting violence from India. Following the warrant's issuance, Bangladesh also issued a note verbale to India, but no response has been received yet," he added.
"This lack of reaction has fuelled instability in the country due to Hasina's statements from there [India]," Azad said.
