The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday responded to BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma’s remarks on Bangaldeshi infiltrators, and said that the “background” and the “core issue” behind his comments
needed to be understood.
While addressing a press conference, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that New Delhi has shared relevant data with Dhaka so that repatriation of Bangladeshi nationals could happen in a “smooth manner”.
“It is important we understand the background of these comments. The core issue that needs to be looked into is that we have shared data with the Bangladeshi side so that people can be repatriated smoothly,” the MEA spokesperson said.
The Ministry’s response came after the BJP leader stirred a row after he claimed that deporting alleged illegal Bangladeshi immigrants through official channels involving the MEA was often difficult and time-consuming.
In an interview with a national daily, Sarma said that suspected Bangladeshi infiltrators could remain in BSF’s custody for 30-40 days and claimed that some individuals returned through West Bengal even after being pushed back.
“Even if we push them back, some come back via Bengal,” Himanta, who has campaigned on making Assam “infiltrator-free”, said.
The BJP leader pointed out several challenges in sending back illegal Bangladeshis via official channels. The key hurdle, as Himanta said, was Dhaka’s refusal to acknowledge Bangladeshi nationals. India and Bangladesh have an extradition treaty that applies to the transfer of criminals and fugitives.
“If I want to send them back officially, I will have to approach the MEA. The MEA will then send details to Bangladesh. It then depends solely on Bangladesh to decide whom they want to take back,” Sarma said.
He claimed that due to these procedural hurdles, authorities sometimes resort to “push back” operations in border areas during the night where personnel from the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) are not deployed.
According to Sarma, while around 1,400 Bangladeshis were officially pushed back, the actual number could be much higher.
The remarks sparked a strong reaction from Bangladesh, which formally summoned India’s Acting High Commissioner Pawan Badhe in Dhaka to lodge a protest.
During the meeting at Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Director General (South Asia division) Ishrat Jahan reportedly described Sarma’s comments as “disparaging” and “potentially damaging to bilateral relations”.
