There have been protests in various parts of India demanding attacks on minorities in Bangladesh. As part of this, several hospitals in the country have announced to stop medical services for Bangladeshi patients. However, despite saying otherwise, India actually wants to receive Bangladeshi patients. For this, India is emphasizing on infrastructure development.
The BJP and Hindutva parties in India have created some tension over the boycott of Bangladeshi patients. BJP leaders even want to stop the supply of essential goods to Bangladesh. It is quickly becoming clear that these are mere political tactics to increase vote bank.
Petrapole will emerge as a major border city of India on the Bangladesh border. A new railway station will be built. Metro will connect Kolkata from the Bangladesh border. This was announced by the country’s Union Minister of State, Shantanu Thakur.
When tensions are running in India-Bangladesh bilateral relations recently, Shantanu Thakur made a big statement about Petrapole.
A special program was held in Siliguri on Friday to mark the Raising Day of the Armed Border Force (SSB). Union Home Minister Amit Shah came to attend the program. A modern building worth Rs 30 crore was inaugurated for BSF jawans in Petrapole.
At the program, Shantanu Thakur said, Petrapole will emerge as a very big border city in the future. We want to build a railway station from Petrapole to Baghdad. We will try to bring the metro from Kolkata to Petrapole. I think that the way millions of people from Bangladesh come to Kolkata for treatment, there is really a need for improved services here.
Regarding Bangladesh, Shantanu said, the original government of Bangladesh is no more. Bangladesh was in the list of economically strong countries in South Asia. But now the situation has changed. They have gone back 50 years. The work of fundamentalism there has brought Bangladesh to this place. We see meetings being held there on the model of Syria. But we will not tolerate all this.
He also said, India is the third largest country in the world in terms of military power. It is in fifth place in terms of the largest economy. So if it comes to taking up challenges with India, it will be a problem. But India has always been a friend of Bangladesh. It will remain so in the future. This will happen only if they extend their hand of friendship to us. But, if it comes to dividing us, we will not sit silent anymore.
