Bangladesh Unrest: Will offer shelter to anyone in distress, says Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday said in wake of the violence in Bangladesh, she would keep the doors of her state open for people in distress and offer them shelter, referring to the United Nations resolution on refugees.
«If someone knocks at my door seeking refuge due to trouble in Bangladesh, I will give them shelter,» Banerjee said, adding, «Don't worry if you have family members in Bangladesh, or people who have come here and got stuck, we will help them. If people come here in a helpless state and the people knock at the door of Bengal, we will surely give them shelter. We will not step in or talk about it as Bangladesh is a sovereign and the Indian government will speak about it. Our empathy and solidarity are with people and students as many lives were lost,» Banerjee said. «We are sad to see so many deaths and my heart goes out to those students who were killed,» she further said. «I should not be speaking on the affairs of Bangladesh as it is a subject matter of the Centre,» Banerjee added.
The West Bengal CM's comments came amid the ongoing protests in Bangladesh that erupted over demands of an end to a quota system that reserves up to 30% government jobs for relatives of veterans who fought in Bangladesh's war of independence in 1971 against Pakistan.
Addressing people during the 'Martyrs Day' rally of the Trinamool Congress in Kolkata, Banerjee also appealed to the people of West Bengal to not get provoked over matters concerning the current situation in the neighbouring country.
