During an all-party meeting on the Bangladesh crisis following Sheikh Hasina’s resignation as Prime Minister amid violent protests, Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi raised three key questions to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
Key Questions by Rahul Gandhi
- Government’s Strategy
- Short-term and Long-term Plans: Rahul Gandhi asked about the government’s plans to handle the diplomatic ramifications of the power shift in Dhaka.
- Response: Jaishankar stated that the situation is developing and the Centre is closely analyzing it to fine-tune its next moves.
- Foreign Involvement
- Potential Role of Pakistan: Gandhi inquired if foreign powers, specifically Pakistan, might be involved in the recent events in Dhaka.
- Response: The Centre is investigating this angle. A source noted that a Pakistan diplomat had been changing his social media display picture to reflect the situation in Bangladesh, which is being probed for potential implications.
- Foreseeing the Crisis
- Government’s Awareness: Gandhi asked if New Delhi had anticipated the dramatic developments in Bangladesh.
- Response: Jaishankar replied that India is monitoring the situation closely.
Government’s Briefing to the Opposition
- Support from Opposition: Congress and other opposition parties have pledged their support to the Modi government in handling the crisis.
- Jaishankar’s Statement: The External Affairs Minister appreciated the unanimous support from the Opposition in a post on X.
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Meeting Highlights
- Attendees: The meeting was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah.
- Background Briefing: MPs were informed about the background of the crisis and the current situation in Bangladesh, including how Sheikh Hasina escaped to India.
- Plans for Hasina: The government is giving her time to decide her next course of action, and she may seek political asylum in the UK.
- Contact with Bangladesh Army: India is in touch with the Bangladesh Army, which has announced the formation of an interim government.
- Focus on Safety: The safety of around 20,000 Indian nationals in Bangladesh is a primary concern. About 8,000 have already returned to India.
Opposition’s Reaction
- Congress MP Karti Chidambaram: He emphasized the importance of the safety of Indian nationals and border security. He appreciated the government’s briefing and expressed support for national security efforts.
The government continues to monitor the situation closely and is prepared to take appropriate actions as necessary.