BJP's audacious march
We are flabbergasted at the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) adoption of a programme to move across the border to protest 'atrocities on minorities'. Even as a programme, the very thought of it is outrageous. We strongly protest such an arrogant move by the BJP.
It is worthwhile to note that the 800-strong group of protest marchers that was stopped by BSF at the Akhaura point close to the Indo-Bangladesh border was organised by the BJP's Agartala state branch.
We cannot believe that the central high command of the BJP was not aware of the reckless programme being launched by its Agartala unit. The question is why didn't it dissuade it from taking such a step?
Being the opposition party in the Indian parliament and with its past role as a ruling party in India, BJP should have been respectful of a friendly neighbour's sovereignty. Instead, it showed disdain. Not only that, it is being meddlesome.
As it is, in Bangladesh we have been vehemently protesting the heinous attacks on the minority community.
Had it been a programme of staging demonstrations within the Indian side of the border, it could be understandable. But since it was a programme of BJP Assam, we fail to understand how even the state government of Tripura could approve of staging such a programme.
Presumably, with the Indian election round the corner, the BJP's attempted march smacked of playing the Hindu card with an eye to an electoral gain.
Even so, trifling with Bangladesh's sovereignty is an affront to us.
This kind of mindset is not conducive to friendly relationship between Bangladesh and India. The sooner it is gotten rid of, the better it is for consolidating the friendly relationship between the two neighbours.
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