India endorses Bangladesh’s present govt

India has distanced itself from remarks made by former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina during a virtual news conference held in New Delhi, stressing that the event was organised independently and that New Delhi does not endorse her comments regarding Bangladesh’s constitutionally established government.

The clarification came on Friday in response to Bangladesh’s strong reaction to the 5 August online news conference, organised by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia.

Speaking to reporters, India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated that the Indian government had no involvement in arranging the event.

“We have made our stand clear before the event. I am reiterating that position. The government had no role to play in an event organised by a private media entity,” Jaiswal said.

He added that New Delhi did not endorse the remarks made during the forum, particularly those concerning Bangladesh’s government.

“And the government does not endorse anything said at the forum, especially with regard to the duly constituted government of Bangladesh,” he said.

Asked whether India shared concerns raised by Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wajed Joy, about the situation in Bangladesh, Jaiswal said India was closely monitoring developments in neighbouring countries, particularly those with implications for its national security.

“We keep a close watch on all the developments in our immediate neighbourhood especially those related to our national security and whatever steps needed to be taken will be taken,” he said.