00:00In a crucial party meeting held in Parliament today, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi posed
00:11three pressing questions to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar regarding the evolving
00:16situation in Bangladesh following the dramatic ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina amidst
00:23violent protests.
00:26These questions focused on the government's strategy to handle the diplomatic ramifications
00:32of the power shift in Dhaka.
00:35Minister Jaishankar responded that the situation is still developing, and the Centre is closely
00:41analysing it to fine-tune its next steps.
00:45The Indian government is actively assessing the implications of this sudden political
00:51upheaval.
00:53Another significant question from Gandhi concerned the potential involvement of foreign powers,
00:59specifically Pakistan, in the recent events in Bangladesh.
01:04Jaishankar confirmed that India is investigating this angle.
01:08Sources revealed that a Pakistani diplomat had been notably active on social media, reflecting
01:14the situation in Bangladesh, which is under scrutiny for any possible connections to the
01:20ongoing crisis.
01:22The all-party meeting, which also included Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister
01:29Amit Shah, provided MPs with a detailed briefing on the background and current status of the
01:36crisis in Bangladesh.
01:39The Indian government outlined the sequence of events leading up to Hasina's departure
01:45and her current status in India.
01:48Reports indicate that Hasina is likely to seek political asylum in the United Kingdom.
01:54The Indian government has pledged to support Hasina, a long-time ally of New Delhi, and
02:01is giving her time to determine her next course of action.
02:06Additionally, the Centre has informed the meeting about its communication with the Bangladesh
02:12army, which has announced the formation of an interim government.
02:17There are approximately 20,000 Indian nationals in Bangladesh, with around 8,000 having returned
02:24to India.
02:25The government is maintaining contact with these nationals and ensuring that High Commission
02:30continues to function effectively.
02:33The situation of minorities in Bangladesh is also being closely monitored.
02:39In a post-meeting statement on social media, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar expressed
02:45appreciation for the opposition's support, highlighting the collaborative effort to
02:50address the neighbourhood crisis.
02:54Congress MP Karti Chidambaram echoed this sentiment, stating that the opposition's backing
03:00of the government's handling of the situation is a positive step.
03:05The ongoing crisis in Bangladesh remains a critical issue and the Indian government's
03:10response will be pivotal in shaping the regional dynamics.
