“We don’t want an unstable or an unfriendly neighbour,” Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Bangladesh’s political crisis

New Delhi [India], August 6 (ANI): Amid the political crisis in Bangladesh, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor voiced his concern over the interim government in Bangladesh and said that India doesn’t want an unstable or unfriendly neighbour.

“We still don’t know who is going to be in the interim government. There are some understandable concerns in India about the increasing influence of the Jamaat-e-Islami, which has taken a very hostile attitude to India in the past, and possible meddling by China and Pakistan…We don’t want an unstable or an unfriendly neighbour,” Tharoor told ANI.

Tharoor also voiced concern over the recent attacks on Hindu homes, temples, and individuals in Bangladesh, warning of a potential refugee crisis if the situation doesn’t stabilize soon.

“There are some disturbing reports coming, of attacks on Hindu homes, temples and individuals. We all saw the pictures of looting yesterday. It may calm down and stabilize in a couple of days, if it doesn’t, then there is a risk even of refugees fleeing to our country and that would be a matter of grave concern. I hope that our High Commissioner and our staff there are safe and monitoring the situation closely,” he told ANI.

He also said that India must reassure everybody that we are not an unfriendly power and we have no desire to dominate or control what’s happening in Bangladesh.

“I think we should make ourselves available, our good officers to help them in whatever way. India must reassure everybody that we are not an unfriendly power and we have no desire to dominate or control what’s happening in Bangladesh. We would like to be helpful. That would be the kind of message that I believe we should convey both publicly and privately,” Tharoor told ANI.

Tharoor stated that India must assure the people of Bangladesh that it stands with them and has no other vested interests.

“As far as India is concerned, the first and most important signal we need to send to the people of Bangladesh is that we stand with them, there are no other vested interests that India has,” Tharoor told ANI.

He mentioned that India has engaged fairly constructively with every government, even with those that were not overtly friendly to us, adding that we will have to continue doing the same

“Bangladesh used to be East Pakistan. There is a certain basis for Islamic fervour in sections of that society. India has engaged fairly constructively with every government, even the governments that were not overtly friendly to us. I think we’ll have to continue doing exactly the same thing.”

Speaking on Shiekh Hasina and the current political situation in Bangladesh, Tharoor said “It’s very clearly the end of the Sheikh Hasina era, no doubt about that. She’s also 76 years old and I don’t think she’s going to sit in exile plotting a comeback, that would be unwise. We’ve seen an unfolding drama in the last half a century between the forces associated with the liberation movement, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and now his daughter for a lengthy period of time. On the other side of the fence, people associated more with the military and to some degree with the more Islamist forces within Bangladesh.”

Bangladesh is facing a fluid political situation with Sheikh Hasina resigning from her post in the wake of mounting protests. The protests, majorly by students demanding an end to a quota system for government jobs, took the shape of anti-government protests.

In Dhaka, the leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement have proposed an interim government led by Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus, in a bid to address Bangladesh’s ongoing challenges.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Hasina arrived in India on Monday evening after tendering her resignation. It is not clear if Sheikh Hasina will continue to stay in Delhi or move to another location later.