West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday launched an attack against the Ministry of External Affairs for objecting to her “shelter” remark for Bangladeshi refugees.
Last week, Bangladesh protested West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s ‘shelter’ remark, saying her remarks were “provocative and had false elements concerning the internal affairs of Bangladesh.”
Yesterday, the Ministry of External Affairs reminded Mamata about the provisions of the Constitution, saying that only the Union Government has the right to “conduct foreign affairs and all matters which bring the Union into the relation with any foreign country.”
‘Don’t teach me’
“I know the federal structure very well. I was an MP seven times, I was a Union minister twice. I know the MEA policy better than anyone else. They shouldn’t teach me a lesson; they should learn from the system instead,” the Trinamool Congress supremo said.
She added that since Bangladesh shares the border with West Bengal she is obliged to give shelter to those who cross the border as per the UN resolution.
What did Mamata say before?
Banerjee, on July 21, during an address said that her government would provide assistance to whoever “comes knocking at our doors” and provide shelter to people coming to India from the turmoil-hit country.
“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,” she said on the occasion of Martyr’s Day.
Later in a post on X, the Trinamool Congress supremo reiterated her government’s support for students who returned to West Bengal.
She said, “Hundreds of students and others are returning to West Bengal/ India, from the trouble-torn Bangladesh. I have asked our State administration to render all help and assistance to the returnees.”
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