West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday spoke about the attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, urging all communities in the state to maintain peace and avoid any provocation.
Addressing the West Bengal state Assembly, she also reacted sharply to a recent remark by a leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) that the country has legitimate rights over Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha. "Are we Indians going to sit and have lollipops when external forces try to occupy our lands?" she quipped, adding, "Stay calm, stay healthy, and have peace of mind."
The Chief Minister highlighted the importance of communal harmony and secularism while warning against external provocations that could disturb the social fabric of the state. She emphasised that the integrity of India would be safeguarded by its conscious and active citizens.
"We are quite conscious and active enough. But we also test patience because we learnt it from Rabindranath Tagore," she remarked.
Banerjee noted with pride that West Bengal was the first state where people across communities staged collective protests against the persecution of minorities in Bangladesh. She pointed out that imams in the state had publicly condemned the violence and expressed solidarity with the affected communities.
"The same blood flows in the veins of Hindus and Muslims and all other communities. We must all work together to ensure nothing is done to aggravate the situation in West Bengal," she said.
The Chief Minister also urged the media to act responsibly and refrain from broadcasting unverified or inflammatory content.
"West Bengal is not Uttar Pradesh that we will ban your telecast. But act responsibly in the interest of West Bengal and its people. If trouble breaks out here, will it not affect you? Similarly, if the situation worsens in Bangladesh, it will affect our relatives and friends there," she warned.
Reiterating her government's commitment to maintaining peace, Banerjee clarified that the Trinamool Congress would adhere to the guidelines of the Ministry of External Affairs.
"Our sense of nationality, patriotism, and compassion must guide us. Let us enrich this soil and love it. If anyone tries to tear it apart, we must resist," she concluded.
Mamata Banerjee's remarks come during a time of tense relations between the two countries. Several minority groups in the neighbouring country, including Hindus, have faced attacks.
Over 200 cases of attacks on Hindus have been reported in the country since, sparking protests and subsequent retaliation by the police in the country.
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