The storm over Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s tactless off the record remarks about Bangladesh shows no signs of blowing over. Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna is off to Dhaka to smooth ruffled feathers. The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry appears to be indignant. In an interview with editors on June 29, Manmohan Singh said that India had been generous in dealing with Bangladesh and had offered a credit of one billion dollars. The word ‘generous’ had raised hackles in Dhaka. Besides, the Prime Minister said 25% of the Bangladeshis owed allegiance to the Jammat-ul-Islam who are very anti-Indian and are in the clutches of the ISI of Pakistan. The statement was not only unnecessary but also erroneous. According to official statistics in Bangladesh, only 4.6% voted for the Jammat in the last poll. The gap is very wide and is surprising coming from an eminent economist. Of course, he was briefed by an incompetent official who should be identified and brought to book. True, these were off the record statements and were not reported in newspapers. But it got publicity. What is astonishing is that Singh could be so harsh about Bangladesh while he was so conciliatory in his Sharm-el-Sheikh declaration about Pakistan. It confirms the view of the Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh that India promotes neighbourliness only with Pakistan.
Singh’s remarks came at an inopportune moment. Relations between India and Bangladesh have been on the upswing in recent years. The Awami League government has been hard on terrorists inside the country and especially helpful to Northeastern India in flushing out rebels from that territory. The forthcoming talks between the Centre, the Assam government and the ULFA would not have been possible if Dhaka had not handed over ULFA chairman Arabindo Rajkhowa to India. Delhi is also trying to get ULFA leader Anup Chetia extradited from Bangladesh. The link with Bangladesh will also reduce India’s commercial dependence on junta-ruled Myanmar. Manmohan Singh is due to visit Bangladesh soon and he should go out of his way to take damage-control measures.