Delhi police's 'Bangladeshi language' label for Bengali an 'insult', says Tamil Nadu CM
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
A Year After Hasina's Ouster, Stability Still Eludes Bangladesh
On August 5 last year, Bangladesh's then Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, had to leave Dhaka for New Delhi. It was a dramatic and historic moment. Even after a year, instability in Bangladesh has not subsided. We all await, with keen anticipation, the announcement of elections in the country. But what is happening in the country? Which direction will Bangladesh take? What does Trump want? What does China want? How much is Bangladesh's situation under India's control? Last but not least, what does India want? The past year has passed quickly. I still remember August 5, 2024, very clearly. Incidentally, that day, several of us journalists were at the West Bengal Legislative Assembly inside Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's office. It was 2:25 pm when the news broke: Sheikh Hasina had taken off from Dhaka by helicopter toward Delhi, accompanied by her sister Sheikh Rehana. Updates were trickling in at Mamata Banerjee's office by the minute. The Chief Secretary and Director General of Police kept coming into the antechamber for discussions. They were coordinating with Delhi. A huge political upheaval had just taken place in Bangladesh. Muhammad Yunus had become the acting prime minister. Even after a year, Bangladesh remains highly volatile. There is a sense of restlessness in Bangladesh. The Jamaat party has become very active. As August 5 returns to our doorstep, what are we seeking? As an Indian and a Bengali, I only want the people of Bangladesh, irrespective of party or ideology, not to suffer. When there is a fire in a neighbouring country, the fire inevitably flickers and reaches us. Especially for those of us in West Bengal, this situation is undesirable. Most of the India-Bangladesh border runs through West Bengal. So, our immediate demand is that elections be held promptly in Bangladesh. The people must get to exercise their voting rights. A democratically elected government must come to power. India absolutely cannot want any military regime or extremist force to take over the land of Pakistan-Bangladesh, crushing secularism. On June 13 this year, former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's son Tarique Rahman held a meeting with Yunus in London. Tarique demanded that elections be held immediately. Yunus responded that in 2026, Ramadan would begin in mid-February, and elections cannot be held during Ramadan. Hence, he asked for more time. The joint statement issued after the Yunus-Tarique meeting bore no signatures. This raised serious doubts over how constitutional the BNP's demands were and to what extent Yunus would eventually honour any commitment. Another reason Yunus asked for time is that he is reportedly trying to bring in certain administrative reforms in Bangladesh. When Yunus assumed power, the Bangladesh military had demanded that elections be held within 18 months. The army repeatedly made it clear: maintaining law and order was not their job. The military must counter any sudden defence-related threat, not manage internal unrest. The sensible people of Bangladesh expect that elections will be announced very soon. But the situation is highly complex. Despite being a small country, Bangladesh's geopolitical location has always been vital. Therefore, Bangladesh has now become a battleground for the US and China. Currently, US Charge d'Affaires Tracy Jacobson is posted in Bangladesh. The US State Department and Hillary Clinton had significant roles behind Yunus's rise to power (later, Donald Trump was elected US President again on January 20, 2025). Jacobson has met with representatives from Jamaat, BNP, and other political parties. She is also urging Yunus to hold elections. The US repeatedly reminds Yunus about the ongoing genocide and terrorist activities. They've also reminded Yunus about cracking down on banned organisations like Hizb ut-Tahrir, which murdered bloggers. Yunus has assured a "zero tolerance" policy on terrorism and mass violence. However, as time passes, BNP suspects that Yunus is using "electoral reforms" as a pretext to delay elections. Without the Awami League, the BNP believes it can easily return to power. There is also speculation that if India pressures Yunus to include the Awami League in the electoral process, BNP may agree, and this is being used as a reason to delay elections. Yunus is trying to delay the election to increase the NCP party members. Meanwhile, the US has shown strong interest in Saint Martin's Island, something they have coveted since Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's time. Sheikh Hasina had firmly refused US control over the region. But after Yunus, a US military drill took place there. Now, under Yunus's interim leadership, the fear within both the BNP and Awami League is that the US may strike a deal with Yunus to gain access to the place. Yunus is suspected of trying to build an understanding with the US to increase his tenure and delay the election. On the other hand, both the US and China are extremely active in Myanmar's Rakhine province and Arakan. China seems quite interested in expanding its influence in those regions by using Bangladesh via Pakistan's Rohingya Salvation Army. The ISI chief even visited Dhaka. All these factors have added multiple layers and dimensions to Bangladesh's electoral scenario. Now, if India sides with the US, China may become more hostile toward India. Already, India is tangled with Trump regarding tariffs. That's why India's stance is extremely crucial at this point. Currently, the chances of an Awami League revival seem slim, though in politics, there are no full stops. If elections are held, will Yunus retain power by striking an understanding with the US with support from the Jamaat, or will the BNP emerge victorious? India doesn't know. Since Yunus is in power now, Delhi has had to maintain diplomatic dialogue with him. The new Bangladesh High Commissioner has come to Delhi and presented his credentials to the President. He also met Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata. However, he has avoided press conferences or meetings with journalists. It is unlikely all this could happen without India's consent. Therefore, it is clear that India has an ongoing diplomatic engagement with the Yunus government. There are no reports yet of India initiating talks with the Jamaat. Though Jamaat has expressed interest, India finds it extremely difficult to respond due to domestic political sensitivities. Some diplomatic experts argue: if Ajit Doval could initiate talks with the Taliban in Afghanistan, why not with the Jamaat? Afghanistan, once thought to be under total Pakistani control, has shifted partially toward India's favour. As for BNP, many diplomats believe that if it comes to power, it will lean strongly towards China. Is that why the US prefers Yunus over BNP? Is that also why India maintains diplomatic channels with Yunus? Time will tell. One thing is clear: whatever the outcome, the safety and security of Bangladesh's Hindu minority must not be compromised. The West Bengal assembly elections are scheduled for April-May 2026. If the Bangladesh elections happen before that, it will be beneficial for West Bengal. But if both elections happen simultaneously, and if the Jamaat attacks minority Hindus for political motives, it will turn into a drastic situation in West Bengal, which would be the last thing Mamata Banerjee would want. The BJP could use that as a major issue against Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal. That could trigger an unwanted, bitter wave of religious polarisation in West Bengal and Bangladesh alike, leading to dangerous consequences for both countries. We, the people of both sides, equally dream of preserving the harmonious relationship that both nations have had since the 1971 independence of Bangladesh. Therefore, early elections in Bangladesh are essential.
NDTV
2 hours ago
- NDTV
Vigilante Groups Intensify Illegal Immigrant Hunt In Assam's Sivasagar
In Assam's Sivasagar, a vigilante movement has intensified pricking the political fault lines in the state, with civil society organisations carrying out an overdrive to detect suspected illegal immigrants, a job otherwise bestowed upon the government and law enforcement agencies by the constitution. Organisations including Jatiyo Sangrami Sena Asom, Ahom Jatiyo Ganamancha, AATASU, Sangrami Yuva Chatra Parishad, Tai Ahom Yuva Parishad, Anusuchit Jati Chatra Santha, and Jatiyo Sangrami Mahila Parishad, are part of this over drive in Sivasagar district. They are demanding immediate detection and deportation of illegal Bangladeshi nationals and extended full support to the state government's ongoing eviction drives against encroachers on government land. Issuing a sharp warning, the groups declared that drives would intensify across Upper Assam this week. The members of these vigilante groups are going door to door to verify people who are working as labourers, staying on rents to find out who among them are suspected illegal immigrants and asking them to leave the district immediately, the locals said. Meanwhile, both the ruling BJP and the main opposition congress have started to target each other over this growing vigilantism in Upper Assam - a region which is seen as the road to power in Assam - with the elections in Assam slated to take place by April next year. "India is a country for Indian citizens. Those who have entered illegally, without documentation and by force, cannot be allowed to stay. Congress's vote bank politics will no longer work," said BJP National Secretary Rituraj Sinha, while reiterating his party's firm stance against illegal immigration in Assam. On the other hand, Leader of the Opposition and Congress MLA Debabrata Saikia accused the BJP of communalising the issue for political gain. He claimed that the eviction drives are targeting even indigenous people and that terms like "suspected foreigners" are being misused to harass minorities. "In the name of evicting illegal immigrants, they are targeting poor Indian citizens from minority communities. This is nothing but a diversionary tactic to hide governance failures," Saikia said. The Congress leader further challenged the BJP to release data on how many illegal immigrants have actually been deported over the past nine years. "Instead of real action, the government is creating a climate of fear and communal tension," he added.
New Indian Express
2 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Traders begin protest against illegal encroachments in Chandni Chowk
NEW DELHI: Traders in Chandni Chowk began a week-long silent protest on Monday, accusing civic agencies and the police of ignoring court orders and allowing illegal encroachments to return to the redeveloped stretch of the historic market. Led by the Chandni Chowk Sarv Vyapar Mandal, the protest began at 3 pm from Sunheri Masjid at Fountain Chowk, with participants marching silently towards Red Fort holding placards with excerpts from orders of the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court. The demonstrators sat near Red Fort for 30 minutes before returning to the starting point. 'This is a protest to uphold the dignity of our courts and demand that their orders be implemented,' said Sanjay Bhargava, president of the association. 'We have been doing the rounds of the Supreme Court, High Court and the National Green Tribunal for years regarding these matters. Despite strict orders, the situation has worsened,' he further said. The protestors allege that hawkers and squatters have been allowed to encroach upon the 1.3 km stretch redeveloped under court supervision at a cost of Rs 140 crore. The traders also claimed that the Delhi Police and the MCD have 'willfully ignored' court orders prohibiting hawking and squatting in certain areas. Bhargava said the group has made repeated complaints to the MCD and Delhi Police but no action has been taken. 'Even Member of Parliament for Chandni Chowk, Praveen Khandelwal has visited four times, but no one listens,' he added. The protest will continue till August 14, with a march each day to different parts of the area, including Town Hall and Fatehpuri Masjid. The traders say they want to 'name and shame' those responsible for the deterioration of the redeveloped area and seek freedom from the 'corruption that has hijacked public land and defied court directions.'
