Tharoor urges India to prioritise Bangladeshi people

A senior Congress leader and an MP, Shashi Tharoor has said India should signal that it is committed to the well-being of all Bangladeshis rather than a particular party or a particular community.

Interacting with the media after a book launch at the Foreign Correspondents' Club (FCC) in New Delhi yesterday, he said India would have to be very careful about the happenings in Bangladesh and cautioned that the neighbouring country could be "our soft underbelly" and India might be very vulnerable if a hostile government were to come to power there.

"We, as a friendly neighbour, should signal at all levels that our commitment is to the well-being of the people of Bangladesh," rather than conveying "the impression that we are more concerned about either a particular political party or a particular community."

"You don't get to choose who rules a particular country. You have to learn to work with them. And, that is something we have to do," he said.

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However, Shashi Tharoor, a Lok Sabha MP who heads the parliamentary standing committee on external affairs, backed the hospitality and shelter accorded to ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, saying there should not be any doubt about it.

To a question on the situation in Bangladesh, he said, "I think what is happening in Bangladesh is something we have to watch closely and carefully for the obvious reason that they are right next door to us."

He continued, "And, anything that happens there will have some significant... and using a sort of American language, they are in many ways in the soft underbelly of India, and we could be very vulnerable if a hostile government were to come to power," he said.

Shashi said he didn't think the "present interim government in Bangladesh can be described as hostile. But, at the same time, there is certain wariness."

Shashi further acknowledged that the recent remarks made by Sheikh Hasina have made matters "complicated."

"We are somewhat in a cleft stick when it comes to statements being issued by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina."

He mentioned two "cardinal yardsticks" to guide policies, when it comes to Bangladesh.

"Two things I will stress: we should not do anything overtly or covertly that implies interference with the internal affairs of Bangladesh…"

"And, secondly, we should keep uppermost the interest of the people, the well-being of the people, of Bangladesh rather than conveying in any way the impression that we are more concerned about either a particular political party or a particular community," he added.