Mamata for UN peacekeeping force in Bangladesh

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today called for the deployment of a United Nations peacekeeping force in Bangladesh and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene personally to ensure the safety of religious minorities in the violence-hit country, reports NDTV.

"We have families... properties... and loved ones in Bangladesh. We accept whatever stance the Government of India takes on this...but we condemn atrocities on religious grounds anywhere in the world and appeal to the union government, and the prime minister, to intervene," she said addressing the Bengal Assembly, the report said.

She also said she was not seeking to interfere with the internal affairs of another country, but pointed out that when Bangladeshi fishermen had mistakenly entered Indian waters, or when a Bangladeshi trawler had capsized, her government had "rescued them and treated them (well)".

Mamata Banerjee stressed the importance of protecting lives and properties, particularly those with familial ties to India, and called on the Indian government to leverage international platforms to advocate for peace and security in the region.

Meanwhile, Modi, after discussions with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, has expressed serious concerns about the rise in targeted violence.

The Indian government emphasised that the responsibility for safeguarding minority communities in Bangladesh lies with its interim government, as per diplomatic statements