Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said in a TV interview aired on Friday that Bangladesh has been left “leaderless” by the “mafia” that has flourished under a “weak” administration. He said Bengal, which shares the longest land border with Bangladesh, is not the only state to be endangered by the ongoing political and social instability in that country.
“If someone opens fire on the Bengal border, Bihar and Odisha will also not be spared. I want all neighbors to live in peace with us,” she told News18 Bangla, urging the central government to keep its channels of communication with Bangladesh open and ensure that “everybody is saved and there May everyone live in peace.”
Earlier this week, Mamata had requested PM Modi to ask the United Nations to send peacekeeping forces to Bangladesh and evacuate “oppressed Indians”. She also stood up for ISKCON Bangladesh amid calls for a ban on the organization following the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Das on treason charges.
The CM said that despite everything, she wants Bangladesh to overcome this difficult period. “Bengal shares a common language and culture with Bangladesh. There are geographical boundaries but the heart has no boundaries. Whatever political compulsions there may be (in Bangladesh), despite this (revenge) talk, I want everything to be fine (in Bangladesh).”
Asked whether the turmoil in India’s neighborhood indicated that the Center had not fired, Mamata said, “I will never speak publicly on bilateral issues. This is my India.”
