Mamata Banerjee bats for UN peacekeeping mission in Muslim-majority B'desh, urges PM Modi to bring back persecuted Indians

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Dec 2 urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to request the United Nations to deploy a peacekeeping force in Bangladesh to tackle the situation there and sought his intervention to bring back persecuted Indians from the neighboring country.

She also demanded a statement on Bangladesh in Parliament by Modi, and by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, if Modi was unavailable.

“For the past 10 days, the Centre has kept mum. Meanwhile, their party (BJP) is holding daily rallies and saying they will block the border and cut off food supplies. This (issue) is not within our jurisdiction. We want the PM to explain India’s stand. The external affairs minister should intervene. Let the two nations engage in dialogue. If not, let the Centre bring Indian nationals back. We can ensure food for them,” she said in a statement.

“If required, let an international peacekeeping force be sent to Bangladesh after talking to the (interim) govt there to help restore normalcy,” he added.

Following her statement in the assembly, Trinamool is keen to raise the Bangladesh situation in Parliament as well. Raising the issue during the question and answer session of the assembly, Banerjee proposed that a resolution be passed in the house on the situation in Bangladesh.

She said she never intended to broach the issue as it involved another country but added, “In the wake of recent developments and experiences narrated by people who have relatives or a base in Bangladesh, because of the arrests of people coming over to our side and my conversations with ISKCON representatives here, I have been forced to make this statement on the floor of this House.”

Banerjee also said that there was an urgent need to rescue and rehabilitate persecuted Indians on this side of the border. “If required we can rehabilitate the Indians attacked in Bangladesh. We have no problem sharing our ‘one roti’ with them if the need arises. There will be no food shortage for them,” she stated in the assembly.

Calling the latest developments in Bangladesh “ unfortunate, " Mamta said, “This is a matter for the central government to address. However, many of our friends and relatives live in Bangladesh. We condemn attacks on any group, regardless of religion, caste, or community. We want peace to return.”

Responding to West Bengal CM's demand, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said , “I am not sure if she fully understands the role of UN peacekeepers. Having worked in UN peacekeeping myself, for many years, I can tell you that UN peacekeepers are very rarely sent inside any country except for the request by any country.”