NEW DELHI, Dec 19 - Reacting to Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen�s statement about taking back its own population, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said there is a repatriation process in place between the two countries.
MEA spokesman Raveesh Kumar said repatriation is an ongoing process. �There is a process between the two countries to take back their own citizens,� he said.
Momen said that his country has requested India to provide a list of Bangladesh nationals, �if any�, living illegally in the country. �We will allow them (Bangladesh citizens) as they have the right to enter into their own country,� he said.
About the postponement of visit by the Bangladesh Foreign Minister, Kumar said there are 75 dialogue mechanisms between India and Bangladesh. The Joint Water Commission meeting had to be postponed because Bangladesh did not have the data on rivers. �I don�t think much should be read about the rescheduling of the meeting,� he said.
While cancelling his visit to India last Thursday citing his busy schedule, Momen said the Bangladesh-India relations are normal and �very sweet� and they will not be affected. He said India has termed the NRC process as its internal matter and assured Dhaka that it would not affect Bangladesh.
Asked about the violent incidents in Jamia Milia University, where some Afghan students expressed their apprehension and asked whether they have sought help of the Foreign Ministry, Kumar said it was a law and order situation and it did not receive any communication from the aggrieved.
Meanwhile, the MEA on Thursday said that they have explained to the United States about India�s perspective on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, conveying that it was an internal affair of the county.
The issue did not figure in the 2+2 dialogue between India and the US in Washington DC, but the issue of CAA figured on the sideline of the dialogue.
After the conclusion of the 2+2 ministerial talks with India, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, �We care deeply and always will about protecting minorities and religious rights everywhere. We honour Indian democracy as they have a robust debate on the issue.�
Asked about the UN body�s statement on the CAA, the MEA spokesman said the Union Home Minister has already made a statement in the Parliament. �Since then several statements have been made by the Prime Minister and Home Minister,� he added.
�It is an affirmative action and our understanding is that countries across the world understand that the CAA is an internal matter of India and it is not discriminatory. Our outreach will continue,� the MEA spokesman said.
