India on Friday firmly rejected comments made by Bangladeshi officials regarding recent incidents of communal violence in West Bengal, calling the remarks "unwarranted" and advising Dhaka to focus on safeguarding its own minority communities.
In a statement shared via his official handle on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, "We reject the remarks made by the Bangladesh side with regard to the incidents in West Bengal."
Describing the comments as a "barely disguised and disingenuous attempt" to equate the situation with India`s concerns over minority rights in Bangladesh, Jaiswal said, "Instead of making unwarranted comments and indulging in virtue signaling, Bangladesh would do better to focus on protecting the rights of its own minorities."
The sharp response from New Delhi follows remarks by Bangladesh Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, who on Thursday rejected any suggestion of Bangladeshi involvement in the violence and called on India to ensure the safety of its Muslim population.
"We strongly refute any attempts to implicate Bangladesh in the communal violence in Murshidabad," Alam said, condemning the attacks that led to loss of lives and property. "We urge the government of India and West Bengal to take all steps to fully protect the minority Muslim population," he added during a briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka.
Tensions escalated after Indian media reports cited sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) claiming preliminary investigations into the Murshidabad violence pointed to the alleged involvement of Bangladeshi nationals. These claims were swiftly denied by Dhaka, which has stressed its commitment to non-interference and respect for bilateral relations.
The diplomatic exchange marks a rare moment of public discord between the two neighbours, who otherwise maintain strong political and economic ties. Both sides have yet to confirm if any formal diplomatic dialogue will take place in response to the escalating rhetoric.
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