Mon Dec 09 19:42:49 UTC 2024: ## West Bengal CM Rejects Bangladeshi Claims, Condemns Violence Against Hindus

**Kolkata, India –** West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday firmly rejected claims by some Bangladeshi politicians asserting territorial rights over Indian states. Responding to comments by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi suggesting Bangladesh could claim West Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha, Banerjee defiantly stated that such claims were unacceptable. She questioned whether Indians would simply “sit and eat lollipops” while their land was threatened.

Banerjee’s strong words follow Rizvi’s statement linking territorial claims to Bangladesh’s own concerns about its borders. However, the Chief Minister expressed optimism regarding ongoing talks between Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and his Bangladeshi counterpart in Dhaka, urging restraint and emphasizing India’s unity.

While emphasizing the BSF’s border security and calling on the central government to handle the situation, Banerjee also condemned the ongoing violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, attributing it to anti-social elements rather than any specific religious group. She further criticized the spread of fake videos aimed at escalating tensions within West Bengal, implicitly blaming the BJP.

The BJP, led by state opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari, has been actively highlighting the attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, even threatening an economic blockade. Adhikari dismissed Banerjee’s response as a “face-saving measure” prompted by public anger, pointing to differing opinions within her own cabinet regarding the situation. The exchange highlights increasing tensions between the ruling TMC and the opposition BJP in West Bengal over the complex India-Bangladesh relationship.

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