Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, December 9, 2024, Kolkata : Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, the Joint Secretary General of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has sharply criticized West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, questioning her secular credentials. Rizvi’s remarks come in response to Banerjee’s recent call for peacekeeping forces to be sent to Bangladesh to address reported instances of violence and oppression.
Rizvi, speaking with evident sarcasm, stated, “I used to think Mamata was secular, but she is a hardliner.” He expressed disappointment in what he described as negative remarks from Indian leaders about Bangladesh and singled out Banerjee’s stance. “We had respect for Mamata Banerjee. I thought she viewed all religions equally. But her call for peacekeeping forces proves she harbors a hardline Hindutva ideology,” Rizvi said.
Mamata Banerjee had previously raised the matter during an assembly session on December 2, emphasizing the need for India to address issues of alleged mistreatment of Indians in Bangladesh. Banerjee urged the Indian government to bring the issue to the United Nations, advocating for the deployment of peacekeeping forces to protect those facing persecution. She reiterated that “no Indian should be subjected to torture” and called for international intervention to ensure their safety.
The BNP leader’s comments highlight the increasing tensions between Indian and Bangladeshi political leaders over cross-border issues.