File photo of BJP chief Amit Shah being felicitated by NEDA convenor Himanta Biswa Sharma during 3rd Conclave of NEDA in Guwahati on 20-05-18. UB Photos

After BJP chief Amit Shah’s comment on illegal Bangladeshi migrants as ‘termites’ Dhaka has reacted strongly.

“Mr Shah was not qualified to speak on India-Bangladesh relationship and that India’s Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had assured Dhaka that people excluded from Assam’s National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise would not be sent to Bangladesh,” Bangladesh information minister Hasanul Haq Inu has reportedly said.

During a rally at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on Sunday, the BJP president Shah said that if re-elected his party would carry out a nationwide exercise to identify each and every illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and send them back. He also alleged Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal “care for them for vote bank politics.”

On Saturday, during a rally in Sawai Madhopur’s Gangapur, Shah has alleged that Bangladeshi citizens had infiltrated India. “The infiltrators have eaten our country like termites,” he said.

Shah’s remarks are unwanted, Inu said. Giving his reactions to the Indian media, Inu said that Shah was not qualified to speak on the bilateral ties between India and Bangladesh.

“Dhaka believes that the comments by Shah were made in personal capacity, which does not reflect the official stand of the Government of India.  In fact, India’s official position has already been conveyed by India’s Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Dhaka is satisfied with it.”

Shah has also reportedly said that Bangladeshi infiltrators are also causing trouble in the national capital, and action against whom should not worry any patriot.

“After forming government in 2019, the BJP will undertake a nationwide identification of illegal infiltrators living in the country,” the BJP chief warned.