Mon Dec 09 13:52:16 UTC 2024: ## Mamata Banerjee Condemns Bangladesh Attacks, Warns Against External Provocations

**Kolkata, India –** West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday addressed the state assembly, strongly condemning recent attacks on minorities in Bangladesh and warning against external attempts to incite unrest in India. She urged all communities in West Bengal to maintain peace and avoid any provocation.

Banerjee reacted sharply to comments made by a Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader claiming Bangladesh’s right to Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha, stating, “Are we Indians going to sit and have lollipops when external forces try to occupy our lands?” She emphasized the importance of communal harmony and secularism, highlighting West Bengal’s history of inter-community protests against persecution in Bangladesh. She praised the state’s imams for publicly condemning the violence.

The Chief Minister appealed to the media to act responsibly, urging them to avoid broadcasting unverified or inflammatory content. She warned that instability in Bangladesh would affect West Bengal’s citizens with relatives in the neighboring country. While emphasizing her government’s commitment to peace and adherence to Ministry of External Affairs guidelines, Banerjee declared, “Our sense of nationality, patriotism, and compassion must guide us.” She concluded with a call for unity and resistance against any attempts to destabilize the state. Her remarks come amid heightened tensions between India and Bangladesh following reports of over 200 attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh.

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