India on Thursday urged Bangladesh to expedite the nationality verification process of nearly 3,000 suspected illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, days after Dhaka warned it would act if New Delhi 'forcibly pushed' any such individuals across the border, reported PTI.
The remarks came in response to comments made by Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman in a social media post on Tuesday, where he said Dhaka would take action in the event of any “push-in” incidents from the Indian side.
Responding to a question on Rahman’s remarks, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the comments must be viewed in the context of the broader issue of repatriating illegal Bangladeshi nationals from India.
“These comments must be seen in the context of the core issue of repatriation of illegal Bangladeshis from India. This requires cooperation from Bangladesh,” Jaiswal said.
He added that 2,862 cases related to nationality verification are currently pending with Bangladesh, with some applications awaiting clearance for more than five years.
“Our policy is that all illegal foreign nationals staying in India must be repatriated as per our laws, procedure and established bilateral arrangements,” he said.
“We expect Bangladesh to expedite nationality verification so that repatriation of illegal immigrants can take place in a smooth manner,” Jaiswal added.
The issue of illegal migration from Bangladesh had emerged prominently during campaigning for the West Bengal assembly elections. During the campaign, the BJP accused the Trinamool Congress of permitting the influx of Bangladeshi nationals into the state, an allegation rejected by the ruling party.
Jaiswal also addressed questions regarding possible cooperation between Bangladesh and China on the management of the Teesta river.
“Between India and Bangladesh, we have 54 rivers that the two countries share. We have structured bilateral mechanisms to discuss all water-related issues. These bilateral mechanisms continue to meet at regular intervals,” he said.
Bangladesh’s state-run BSS news agency reported on Thursday that Rahman, during his ongoing visit to China, sought Beijing’s involvement and support for the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project (TRCMRP).
According to the report, issues concerning the project were discussed during a meeting between Rahman and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on Wednesday.
India has opposed Chinese involvement in projects linked to the Teesta river because of the river’s proximity to a sensitive border region with Bangladesh.
The Teesta river originates in the eastern Himalayas and flows through Sikkim and West Bengal before entering Bangladesh, where it serves as an important source of irrigation and livelihoods for millions of people.
(With inputs from PTI)
