Will back Centre on Bangladesh, says Mamata Banerjee

KOLKATA: No religion should be harmed and any incident ending in violence "because of religion" is condemnable, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said Thursday while reacting to the attack on minorities in Bangladesh, report Dwaipayan Ghosh & Tamaghna Banerjee.

Banerjee said she was saddened by the events, but the Bengal administration and her party had a "limited role in this", hoping the Centre would speak to Bangladesh to end the turmoil. "We will back whatever decision the Centre takes."

"The Centre can talk to Bangladesh and resolve this. Our party has a stand on issues relating to external affairs: we support the Centre," she said, while making clear her displeasure over a few issues. "The Centre has a different perspective on a particular religion and is vindictive towards one religion. That, too, is wrong. Temples, mosques, gurdwaras must co-exist. We're not consulted on these issues (relating to Bangladesh). Even the Teesta (water-sharing) deal was completed keeping us in the dark.We hope peace prevails." Banerjee earlier on Thursday told the state assembly that she had spoken to Iskcon monks here and stressed that "no religion should be harmed".