West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday (July 21) said the Trinamool Congress-led state government would provide shelter to people from violence-hit Bangladesh "if they come knocking on our doors," Indian media reports.
"I cannot speak anything about Bangladesh as it is another country. The Indian government will speak about that. But if helpless people (from Bangladesh) knock on Bengal's door, we will give them shelter. There is a resolution of the UN. Neighbours will respect refugees," Mamata Banerjee said.
She made all these remarks while addressing a mega 'Martyrs' Day' rally of the Trinamool Congress.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh government on Tuesday July 23 officially registered its protest over West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's statement on offering "shelter to helpless people" from violence-hit Bangladesh.
"With due respect to the West Bengal Chief Minister, with whom we share a very close relationship, we want to make it clear that her comments have a lot of scope for confusion. Therefore, we have given a note to the Government of India," Hasan Mahmud, Bangladesh Foreign Minister, said. However, Hasan has sent an official note to New Delhi regarding the matter, it added
"West Bengal keep its door open for the "People in distress" from neghbouring country and offer them shelter," West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee told at the rally adding that if helpless people come knocking on the doors of West Bengal, we will surely provide them shelter, media reports.
The West Bengal Chief Minister referred to the United Nations resolution on refugees as justification for her stand.
"That's because there is a United Nations resolution to accommodate refugees in regions adjacent to those in turmoil," the Chief Minister added.
Meanwhile, West Bengal Governor, CV Ananda Bose, has sought a report from Banerjee on her comment. The Raj Bhavan said that it is the Centre's prerogative to handle anything that is part of external affairs, India Today reports.
"Public statement by a Chief Minister undertaking the responsibility to provide shelter to people who may be coming in from a foreign nation implies Constitutional transgression of a very serious nature," the Governor's office said in a statement on Monday (July 22), the reports said.
"Violence escalated in Bangladesh, especially in the capital Dhaka and elsewhere, killing scores as students launched protests demanding reforms of the quota system for government jobs. A counter-protest of students supporting the Sheikh Hasina government also hit the streets, and protesters clashed with police. The protests have been ongoing for over a month but escalated last week after police action at Dhaka University," it reads.
