India seeks stronger ties with BD, but anti-India rhetoric must stop: Jaishankar
NN Online:
Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has emphasised India’s willingness to maintain positive neighbourly relations with Bangladesh, but urged Dhaka to decide the nature of its relationship with India moving forward.
Speaking at the Delhi University Literature Fest on Saturday, He also criticised the ongoing anti-India rhetoric from advisers of Bangladesh’s Interim Government, describing them as “absolutely ridiculous,” reports Indian news agency United News of India.
Jaishankar expressed India’s longstanding and positive relationship with Bangladesh, saying, “We obviously wish our neighbours well. We have a deep history with Bangladesh, a very special history that dates back to 1971.”
He went on to reference the recent political developments in Bangladesh, adding, “Last year, things happened there that everyone is aware of,” referring to the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5 and the subsequent formation of the Interim Government led by Mohammed Yunus.
Jaishankar highlighted two key concerns regarding the current situation in Bangladesh, one of which is “the spate of attacks on minorities.” Such incidents naturally influence India’s stance, he explained. “It is something we have to speak up about, and we have done so.”
On the interim government’s approach to relations with India, he pointed to the political environment, saying, “They have their politics, you can agree or disagree, but at the end of the day, we are neighbours. Bangladesh has to decide what kind of relationship it wants with us.
“Because every day, if somebody in Bangladesh, who is in this Interim Government which they have made up for themselves, if they stand up and blame India for everything, and some of the things if you see the reports, are absolutely ridiculous.”
He further emphasised that Bangladesh cannot claim to seek a good relationship with India while simultaneously blaming it for every issue.
“You can’t on the one hand say, ‘oh I would like to have a good relationship with you,’ but I get up every morning and I blame you for everything that goes on. It is a decision that they have to make, about what kind of relationship they want with us,” Jaishankar added.
He reiterated India’s position, saying, “We have sent a very clear signal—we are neighbours, we want things to calm down, and we want trade and other contacts. However, we cannot tolerate constant hostile messaging toward India.”
“We have sent a very clear signal– you are a neighbour, we would like things to calm down, we would like the trade, the contacts, the other things; but obviously we would not like to see messaging and signalling which is continuously hostile in a way to India,” he added.
On Friday, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, answering a query on the anti-India comments by advisors in the Interim Government and what impact it will have on India’s dealings, he said, “Yes, we have taken note of such remarks, which are, of course, not helpful. It is for the concerned individuals to reflect on the implications of their statements.”