Mamata Banerjee Urges Centre to Request UN Peacekeeping Mission for Bangladesh
Calls for Statement in Parliament from PM Modi or Foreign Minister Amid Ongoing Crisis
West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee has reiterated her party’s stance on Bangladesh’s ongoing situation. During the winter session of the West Bengal Assembly on Monday, she urged the central government to approach the United Nations for deploying peacekeeping forces in Bangladesh. Mamata said, “We propose that the Centre request the UN to send peacekeeping forces to Bangladesh.”
The Chief Minister also demanded a statement in Parliament from either Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar regarding the issue. She stated, “The Prime Minister should issue a statement in Parliament. If he cannot, then the Foreign Minister must address the situation.”
Acknowledging that her state government lacks the jurisdiction to act on the matter, Mamata emphasized that they would follow the Centre’s advice. However, she warned that her government would not tolerate any attacks on Indians in Bangladesh, adding, “If Indians are attacked in Bangladesh, we will not accept it. We can bring them back from there.”
Mamata further highlighted that many families, properties, and loved ones in Bangladesh have ties to India. While urging the Indian government to intervene, she condemned religious persecution anywhere in the world and stated, “We request the Centre and the Prime Minister to take action.”
Criticizing the BJP-led central government, Mamata accused it of remaining silent on the Bangladesh issue for the past ten days. She remarked, “The central government has stayed quiet while their party talks about blocking everything. However, we lack the authority in this matter.”
The Chief Minister announced that the proposal for deploying peacekeeping forces would be included in the written recommendations accompanying the Assembly’s discussion on the Waqf Bill, which will be sent to the Centre.
Earlier, during the Assembly session on Thursday, Mamata had reiterated her support for any decision the central government takes regarding Bangladesh. Trinamool Congress’s National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee had also expressed a similar stance, describing the situation in Bangladesh as “unfortunate.”