Bangladesh protests against ‘highly deplorable’ Amit Shah’s remarks about ‘infiltrators’
Shah warned that if illegal immigration is not controlled, the state's unlawful population might become the majority in 25 to 30 years.
Just a few days after Home Minister Amit Shah brought up the issue of “rampant infiltration” from Bangladesh during the Jharkhand election campaign, the foreign ministry of Bangladesh officially lodged a Bangladesh protest on Monday, September 23, at the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.
Shah had warned that if illegal immigration is not reined in, the state’s unlawful population might become the majority in 25 to 30 years. He had also slammed the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led coalition in the state, accusing them of supporting infiltration from Bangladesh.
“Tell me whether this land belongs to tribals or Rohingya and Bangladeshi infiltrators. Neither the JMM nor the Congress can save Jharkhand. Only Prime Minister Narendra Modi can,” Shah said on Friday at a speech in Jharkhand.
Shah also advised voters to choose a government that is dedicated to deporting illegal immigrants versus one that is pro-immigration. The Bangladeshi government responded by describing the comments as “highly deplorable” in a protest note.
It advised the Indian government to caution political leaders against making defamatory and inappropriate remarks. The Indian Deputy High Commissioner in Bangladesh, Pawan Badhe, received a communication from the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry expressing its worries.
It raised “serious reservations, a deep sense of hurt, and strong displeasure” with Shah’s comments. The ministry added that remarks of this kind weaken the spirit of respect for one another, particularly when they come from senior officials.
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