Jamaat-e-Islami has issued a strong protest against recent comments made by Harsh Vardhan Shringla, a former Indian high commissioner to Bangladesh, regarding the party’s electoral prospects and the legitimacy of the democratic process.
In a statement released on Sunday, the party’s Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar condemned Shringla’s assertion that “Jamaat will come to power if the election is rigged”.
Parwar characterized these remarks as a violation of international diplomatic etiquette and foreign policy principles, noting that such statements from a former diplomat and sitting Member of Parliament regarding the internal affairs of a sovereign state are entirely unacceptable.
The controversy stems from comments made by Shringla, a current Rajya Sabha member, on Friday while speaking to journalists in Darjeeling, West Bengal.
Shringla, who also served as India’s foreign secretary, claimed that Jamaat has never won and will never win in a free and fair election, citing that the party has historically never secured more than five to seven percent of the total vote.
He further alleged that the party lacks public support and could only ascend to power through electoral irregularities.
In response, Mia Golam Parwar accused Shringla of attempting to question Bangladesh’s democratic process and damaging the diplomatic harmony and mutual respect between the two neighboring nations.
“We are a registered, democratic, and ideology-based political party,” Parwar stated, adding that Jamaat has consistently played an uncompromising role in advocating for people’s rights, democracy, justice, and good governance.
He expressed confidence that the public would provide a genuine verdict if an at-large, free, and fair election were held.
The Secretary General concluded by urging responsible quarters in India to refrain from such commentary, maintain diplomatic courtesy, and respect Bangladesh’s internal sovereignty.
