New Delhi has firmly rejected Dhaka’s expression of concern over the treatment of Muslim minorities in India, urging Bangladesh to prioritize the protection of its own minorities rather than making what it called “virtue signaling” statements.
Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal issued the response on Friday, following remarks made by Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, Shafiqul condemned recent communal violence in West Bengal and dismissed any Indian attempt to link it to Bangladesh.
“We strongly condemn the attacks on Muslims and the destruction of their property,” he wrote.
“We urge the Indian and West Bengal authorities to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety and rights of the Muslim community.”
His remarks followed violent protests in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district on April 11, sparked by opposition to the Waqf (Amendment) Act.
Indian media reported that the clashes left three people dead and led to the arrest of 278 individuals after demonstrators reportedly threw bricks at law enforcement and set police vehicles ablaze.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged the involvement of “Bangladesh-based miscreants” in the violence, while also blaming the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for stoking tensions.
Reacting to the Bangladeshi statement, MEA spokesperson Jaiswal said, “This is a barely concealed and misleading attempt to equate the situation with India’s legitimate concerns over the treatment of minorities in Bangladesh—where perpetrators of communal violence often remain at large.”
“We reject the remarks made by the Bangladesh side with regard to the incidents in West Bengal,” he added.
Instead of making unwarranted comments and indulging in virtue signaling, Bangladesh would do better to focus on protecting the rights of its own minorities, he said.