The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has issued a “gag order” to its West Bengal unit regarding the ongoing political unrest in Bangladesh, according to sources. This directive from the central leadership aims to prevent statements from state leaders that could potentially harm bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh.
The move follows a controversial remark by Suvendu Adhikari, the BJP’s leader of opposition in West Bengal, who suggested that the state should prepare for an influx of one crore Hindu refugees from Bangladesh. Adhikari’s comments came amid reports of targeted violence against minorities, including Hindus, in Bangladesh. He claimed that the violence was severe, citing specific instances of killings and urging state authorities to discuss the issue with the central government.
Adhikari’s statements led to concerns within the BJP about the impact of such comments on India’s diplomatic relations with Bangladesh. Sources indicate that a senior general secretary of the BJP issued the gag order, which restricts even senior state leaders from commenting on the situation in Bangladesh. This development follows Adhikari’s visit to Delhi to meet with BJP President JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Although Adhikari denied being summoned, he confirmed that his visit was to express concerns about the situation in Bangladesh and discuss measures to protect Hindu minorities.
In response to the unrest, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the central government have reached an understanding. Banerjee publicly stated that the handling of the Bangladesh issue should be left to the Union Government and urged political leaders to avoid making provocative remarks that could disrupt peace in Bengal and across the country. This appeal was promptly followed by the BJP’s internal decision to impose a gag order on its state leaders.
The gag order represents a significant effort by the BJP to manage the party’s messaging on sensitive international issues and maintain diplomatic relations while addressing internal concerns.
