Mamata Banerjee’s ‘don’t teach me’ response to Centre over Bangladesh refugees row

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hit back at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for objecting to her remarks about offering shelter to refugees from violence-hit Bangladesh.

Banerjee said, “I know the federal structure very well. I was an MP seven times, I was a Union minister twice. I know the MEA policy better than anyone else. They shouldn’t teach me a lesson; they should learn from the system instead.”

Mamata Banerjee had spoken about her commitment to providing shelter to Bangladeshi refugees under the United Nations Resolution, following violent clashes in Bangladesh over job quotas protest. Her comments came during a public event in Kolkata, where she expressed her willingness to help those affected by the violence.

“If helpless people come knocking on the doors of Bengal, we will surely provide them shelter,” she said at the ‘Martyrs Day’ rally of the Trinamool Congress.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry had expressed its displeasure over Banerjee’s remarks, communicating through diplomatic channels that her comments could create confusion and mislead the public.

The MEA confirmed that it has received a written objection from Dhaka over Mamata Banerjee’s remarks.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that matters involving foreign relations are the prerogative of the central government.

Jaiswal stated, “Under the Seventh Schedule — List One — Union List — item 10 of our Constitution, the conduct of foreign affairs and all matters which bring the Union into relation with any foreign country are the sole prerogative of the Union government.”