J&K, Article 370: It’s an internal matter of India
Bangladesh yesterday termed the Indian government’s revoking of article 370 “an internal issue of India”.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said this in a press release published on its official website 15 days into the scrapping of the article that provided special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Bangladesh maintains that the abrogation of article 370 by the Indian government is an internal issue of India,” says the press release.
The statement comes a day after Indian External Affairs Minister of India S Jaishankar held meetings with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen.
“Bangladesh has always advocated, as a matter of principle, that maintaining regional peace and stability, as well as development should be a priority for all countries,” the release added.
The BJP-led Indian government stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its autonomy and statehood, creating two federal territories, on August 5.
The order revokes article 370 of India’s constitution, which forbids Indians outside the state from permanently settling, buying land, holding local government jobs, and securing educational scholarships.
INDO-BANGLA RELATIONS
Before leaving Dhaka for Kathmandu yesterday morning, External Affairs Minister of India S Jaishankar said it was good to see the two countries’ ties to be on a positive trajectory, UNB reports.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam and Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Riva Ganguly Das saw him off at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 10:30am, said an official.
Jaishankar said he had “productive discussions” with his Bangladesh counterpart AK Abdul Momen on Tuesday, according to UNB.
The Indian minister met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Gono Bhaban on the same day.
Bangladesh and India are working to find “mutually acceptable formulas” to share water of 54 common rivers keeping India’s commitment to resolving Teesta issue unchanged.
Jaishankar said India’s partnership with Bangladesh remains an example of what neighbours can do if they work together as partners.
He said the Indian government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was determined to ensure that this partnership was a role model for South Asia and the world.
The minister said they would like to offer all possible support to realise Bangladesh’s development agenda which was in India’s interest as well.
India is a leading development partner of Bangladesh and has extended concessional lines of credit to the tune of around $8 billion.
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