An all-party meeting was informed that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar told them that India has extended all support to former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who reached India on Monday evening, sources said. The minister said, "India has given her time to decide on the next course of action." He further added, "The Indian government is in touch with the Chief of the Bangladesh Army to ensure the safe evacuation of over 10,000 Indian students in that country.".
It was during the meeting that Jaishankar responded to questions from various leaders, including Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi. He has refused to rule out foreign interference in Bangladesh's unrest but added that things are pretty fluid at this point in time, with the government closely monitoring developments. Mr. Gandhi asked whether there were chances of foreign governments fomenting trouble.
He stated that protestors in Bangladesh targeted minority properties and households. He said Hasina, who has been in India for less than 24 hours, is in a shocked state and added that the government is giving her time to recover before various matters can be discussed with her, including her future plans.
External Affairs Minister is likely to make a statement on the issue in the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha.
Leaders of various parties, including Gandhi, extended full support to the government's actions. Leader of YSR Congress V Vijaysai Reddy declared that the party is with the government in matters of national interests. Jaishankar followed it up later thanking the all-party meeting for unanimous support on X.
"Briefed an All-Party meeting in Parliament today about the ongoing developments in Bangladesh. Appreciate the unanimous support and understanding that
was extended," Jaishankar posted on X after the meeting.
Leader of the Congress party, Karti Chidambaram, in this regard, took the stand that the Congress Party is with the government over national security and interest matters, although he did not attend the meeting himself.
"Congress party is fully with the government as far as national security and national interest are concerned," Chidambaram told PTI. However, he was not present at the meeting.
Bangladesh has been in turmoil following intense street protests over job quotas, which led to Hasina's resignation and flight. The meeting was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Health Minister J.P. Nadda, JD(U) leader and Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh 'Lalan', JD(S) leader and Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi, DMK leader T.R. Baalu, SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav, Trinamool leader Sudip Bandypapdhyay and NCP leader Supriya Sule, among others.
Referring to the situation in Bangladesh before the meeting, Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut said that Indian leaders must take a lesson from what has happened. Raut felt that when democracy is threatened and power becomes dictatorial, it usually leads to anarchy.
CPI(M) member P. Santosh Kumar said, "Situation in Bangladesh is explosive. We are in solidarity with people of Bangladesh rather than any political party or leader.".
The unfolding drama in Bangladesh served as a "lesson" to all nations that suppress people's agitations, said Samajwadi Party member Virendra Singh. Crises of this nature start whenever one tries to destroy democracy, he added.
BJP Rajya Sabha member Lahar Singh Siroya said the Centre and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi are monitoring the situation "very closely" and appropriate steps would be taken. India was fully capable of dealing with the situation, he added.
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