New Delhi (NVI): Bangladesh Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen has cancelled his visit to India scheduled to begin tomorrow, citing “some sudden pressing national events at home”.
The cancellation of the visit came against the backdrop of a major row over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill but the Indian government insisted that “any speculation that this development is connected with legislation adopted by Parliament yesterday” is “unwarranted”.
The bill, which has been passed by both Houses of Parliament, provides for granting Indian citizenship to Hindus and members of some other minority communities of Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The impending new law has triggered widespread protests in Assam and some other parts of North East.
Momen was scheduled to address the 6th Indian Ocean Dialogue besides attending some other programmes in New Delhi during this visit.
“The Foreign Minister (of Bangladesh) said he had to cancel the trip due to some sudden pressing national events at home,” Bangladesh High Commission here said in a statement today.
“He (Momen) said he has to participate in two important national events — the observance of Martyred Intellectuals Day on December 14 and the Victory Day on December 16. The events coincide with his planned visit to India,” the statement said.
Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar, while commenting on the matter, said, “The Bangladesh side have already informed us of the postponement of the visit” of the Foreign Minister Momen which was earlier scheduled from December 12-14, 2019.
“The Bangladesh side have conveyed that the Minister has changed his programme on account of domestic issues pertaining to the commemoration of the ‘Victory Day’ in Bangladesh on December 16,” Kumar said, adding, “Any speculation that this development is connected with legislation adopted by Parliament yesterday regarding the Citizenship Amendment Bill is unwarranted.”
Kumar, while making his point, also referred to the comments made by Home Minister Amit Shah in Parliament.
“Sir, the current government in Bangladesh is also taking care of religious minorities. It is making arrangements also for religious minorities, but there has been a long period in the past in between, during which people came to India (from Bangladesh) on account of religious persecution. This Bill is only to give citizenship to those people who came at that time,” Shah had said.
