The remarks by exterior affairs ministry spokesperson got here in opposition to the backdrop of a pointy downturn in bilateral ties for the reason that fall of the Sheikh Hasina govt
Ministry of exterior affairs official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addresses a press convention in New Delhi (File) (@MEAIndia/PTI)
The remarks by exterior affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal got here in opposition to the backdrop of a pointy downturn in bilateral ties for the reason that fall of the Sheikh Hasina authorities final August and the set up of a caretaker administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. India has criticised the interim authorities on quite a few events for its failure to stop the repression of Bangladesh’s non secular minorities.
With India and Bangladesh set to carry negotiations for renewing the Ganga Water Treaty of 1996, which is about to run out subsequent yr, Jaiswal instructed a weekly media briefing that New Delhi is ready to interact with Dhaka on all issues in an setting conducive to mutually useful dialogue.
Jaiswal criticised Bangladeshi authorities for the demolition of the Durga temple in Dhaka. “We perceive that extremists have been clamouring for demolishing the Durga temple in Khilkhet, Dhaka,” he mentioned.
“The interim authorities, as a substitute of offering safety to the temple, projected the episode as unlawful land use… and allowed the destruction of the temple at this time [Thursday].”
He added, “This has resulted in injury to the deity earlier than it was shifted. We are dismayed that such incidents proceed to recur in Bangladesh.”
Jaiswal emphasised the Bangladeshi interim authorities’s duty to guard Hindus, their properties and spiritual establishments.
He responded to a query in regards to the renewal of the Ganga Water Treaty by saying that India and Bangladesh share 54 cross-border rivers, together with the Ganga. “To focus on all related points that kind a part of this cooperation, the 2 nations have a bilateral mechanism in place, which is the Joint Rivers Commission. We even have consultations of involved state governments… in our personal inside consultations on such points to border our method,” he mentioned.
“We are ready to interact with Bangladesh on all issues in an setting that’s conducive for mutually useful dialogue,” he added.
Asked about India’s determination to curb Bangladeshi exports by way of land ports, Jaiswal mentioned the measures have been primarily based on Dhaka’s personal quest for “equity, equal therapy and reciprocity”. He mentioned: “We await decision of the underlying points pending with the Bangladeshi facet for a very long time. These points have been raised by India at a number of structured conferences earlier, together with on the commerce secretary-level talks.”
Last month, India curbed Bangladesh’s exports of ready-made clothes and a number of other client items by land ports so as to guarantee equity and equality in bilateral commerce. These restrictions have been imposed weeks after New Delhi ended a virtually five-year-old association for trans-shipment of Bangladeshi cargo to 3rd nations by way of Indian airports and ports.
