Not sure Mamata understands UN peacekeepers' role: Shashi Tharoor
Shashi Tharoor, member of parliament for the Congress party, today reacted to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee's suggestion to deploy UN peacekeeping forces in Bangladesh, and said he is "not sure" if she fully understands their role.
"I am not sure if she fully understands the role of UN peacekeepers. Having worked in UN peacekeeping myself for many years, I can tell you that UN peacekeepers are very rarely sent inside any country except for a request made by the country itself."
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. He told PTI that it is only when a country completely collapses, the peacekeepers are sent and "the government of the country has to request them. But I completely agree that we have to keep an eye on what is happening".
Speaking in the West Bengal state assembly yesterday, Mamata urged the Indian government to seek the deployment of UN peacekeeping forces in Bangladesh to help normalise the situation and ensure the safety of minorities in that country.
Furthermore, in a Lok Sabha session today, Trinamool Congress leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay again urged the Indian government to ask the United Nations to immediately dispatch peacekeeping forces to the neighbouring country.
TMC's Sudip Bandyopadhyay made the remarks while raising the issue during the Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha.
Sudip Bandopadhyay said minorities, including Hindus, are being "tortured and killed" in Bangladesh and urged the Centre to appeal to the UN to immediately send peacekeeping forces to the country.
Bandyopadhyay said the Indian government has so far maintained silence on the issue and asked External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to apprise the House of the latest developments in the matter.
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