'Let Them Fight Among Themselves': B'desh FM Cancels India Visit After Criticising Citizenship Bill

The cancellation of Momen's India visit comes a day after the Rajya Sabha passed the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) that grants citizenship to religious minorities from three Muslim-majority countries including Bangladesh on grounds that they were being persecuted.

Cancellation of Momen's India visit comes a day after the Rajya Sabha passed CAB. (File Photo/ Getty)

New Delhi: Stroking controversy barely hours before his arrival in India for a three-day visit to attend the the Indian Ocean Dialogue and Delhi Dialogue events, Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen criticised the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill and said “let them (Indians) fight among themselves”. Momen even cancelled his trip to India on Thursday, hours before he was scheduled to land in New Delhi to attend the events. He was scheduled for a India visit from December 12-14. The cancellation of Momen's India visit comes a day after the Rajya Sabha passed the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) that grants citizenship to religious minorities from three Muslim-majority countries including Bangladesh on grounds that they were being persecuted. "They (Indians) have many problems within their country. Let them fight among themselves. That does not bother us. As a friendly country, we hope that India will not do something that affects our friendly relationship," Bangladeshi media quoted Momen as saying, according to news agency ANI.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh says,"They (India) have many problems within their country. Let them fight among themselves. That does not bother us. As a friendly country, we hope that India will not do something that affects our friendly relationship":Bangladesh media https://t.co/a0QiZ1V0gk

— ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2019

Diplomatic sources close to news agency PTI, however, mentioned that Momen cancelled his trip over the situation arising out of the passage of the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in Parliament om Wednesday. Momen, however, said in a statement in Dhaka that he had to cancel his trip to New Delhi due pressing engagements. "I had to cancel my trip to New Delhi as I have to participate in the 'Buddijibi Debosh' and 'Bijoy Debosh' and more so as our State Minister is out of the country in Madrid and our Foreign Secretary is in The Hague," he said. "Given the increasing demand at home, I have decided to cancel the visit. However, I am looking forward to attending the next meeting in January. I am sending our DG to attend the event," the minister added. A statement released by the Bangladeshi government said the foreign minister decided to cancel his trip given "increasing demand" at home. Even on Wednesday Momen raised concerns over the passage of Citizenship Amendment Bill that was passed in Rajya Sabha stating that it could weaken India's historic character as a secular nation and also rejected India's claims that minorities in Bangladesh are facing any religious persecution. "India is historically a tolerant country which believes in secularism (but) their historic position will be weakened if they deviate from that," Momen has said while speaking to reporters. He said Bangladesh and India were enjoying close friendly relations that was termed as “golden chapter” of bilateral ties and “so, naturally our people [Bangladeshis] expect that India won’t do anything that could create anxiety among them”. “Many important decisions of our country are taken by persons belonging to different religions...we never judge anybody by their religion,” he said. Momen said Bangladesh maintained strong religion harmony and ensured that followers of all faiths enjoy same rights in every area. He said during his talks earlier on Thursday with U.S. Ambassador in Dhaka Earl R Miller, the envoy expressed America’s concern about the CAB. "They (US) are being critical about that (as well) . . . they believe India weakened its position by doing it (passing the bill in Lok Sabha)," Momen said. Even a federal US commission on international religious freedom has sought sanctions against Home Minister Shah and other principal Indian leadership if the CAB with the "religious criterion" is passed by the Parliament, evoking a sharp reaction from India which said the American body has no locus standi on the issue. Responding to which, New Delhi said that the Bill provides expedited consideration for Indian citizenship to persecuted religious minorities already in India from certain contiguous countries.  MEA spokesperson asserted that every nation has the right to enumerate and validate its citizenry, and to exercise the prerogative through various policies. (With inputs from agencies)