Kolkata, July 15 (UNI) Pulling up Pakistan for “religious fanaticism”, “bigotry” and “narrowmindedness”, and its efforts to “harass” India, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
on Friday said Islamabad should instead introspect and take lessons from Bangladesh’s achievements on socio-economic indicators.
Praising Bangladesh for shunning religious fanaticism and following a path of fast
socio-economic development and modernisation, the union minister said India’s eastern
neighbour has now emerged as a shining example for several other countries.
While Rajnath did not take the name of Pakistan, his remarks were clearly aimed at
India’s western neighbour.
“One of our neighbouring countries is struggling with religious fanaticism, bigotry and
narrow-mindedness. The country is reeling under poverty, unemployment and terrorism
and sometimes it tries to harass India also. That country needs to introspect and learn
a lot from Bangladesh,” he said at the launch of ‘Dunagiri’, a Project 17A frigate at
Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) here.
As an immediate neighbour, India was elated at Bangladesh’s quick progress, he said.
“Bangladesh has rejected religious fanaticism and chosen the road of modernisation,
moderation and secularism. Bangladesh has emerged as a shining example for several
countries in the world by the kind of socio-economic development it has ushered in,” he
said.
Continuing to laud Bangladesh, which last year celebrated the golden jubilee of its
independence from Pakistan’s rule, Rajnath Singh said “Bangladesh has carved out
an identity for itself in the region, and I hope it reacher greater heights in the coming
days”.
Rajnath Singh said India has stood thick and thin with Bangladesh in sectors like health,
education, economy, connectivity and security and would continue to do so in the future
Turning to the crisis in Sri Lanka, the minister said India was making all efforts to extend
assistance to its southern neighbour.
“We all know the sort of difficult times Sri Lanka is passing through. Covid19 and the crisis
in Ukraine have affected us also. Despite that we are extending all possible help to our
friend Sri Lanka,” he said.
Singh also mentioned that India had earlier stood by Nepal and the Maldives during the
pandemic by providing medicines and other essential items.
