in-a-first-mamata-to-attend-indian-army-s-vijay-diwas-event

Amid sketchy diplomatic ties between India and its eastern neighbour, a small delegation of Mukti Joddhas (war veterans) from Bangladesh arrived in Kolkata on Sunday evening to attend the 53rd Vijay Diwas celebrations. 

 

The event will take place at Army’s Eastern Command headquarters on December 16— the day on which Pakistan’s Eastern Army surrendered in 1971.

 

Despite being invited by the army every year, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee managed to skip the occasion. 

 

However, this year, she will be making her first appearance at the event, said an army official.

 

Vijay Diwas is celebrated every year in Fort William on December 16, the Army’s eastern command headquarters, to mark Indian armed forces’ victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war giving birth to Bangladesh.

 

There was uncertainty over the visit of Mukti Joddhas for the annual event in Kolkata, but at least eight war veterans from Bangladesh arrived at the state capital and they will be present at the wreath-laying ceremony and for the special military tattoo show.

 

The relationship between the two countries has seen a change after Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled and India provided refuge to her. 

 

As part of efforts to maintain a stable diplomatic relationship with its neighbour, India’s foreign secretary Vivek Misri recently visited Dhaka and held a meeting with Bangladeshi diplomats.

 

West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose will also be present at the celebrations tomorrow.    

 

Bengal CM’s first time appearance at the event is said to be politically motivated as the ruling Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party are at loggerheads over the issue of the ongoing unrest in Bangladesh.

 

When the BJP is aiming to consolidate Hindi votes in its favour, Mamata, too, has appeared to be desperate to retain her party’s Hindu vote-share. 

 

She issued strong statements criticising a section of Bangladeshi politicians’ statements targeting India. 

 

While speaking in the Assembly, she also urged the Centre to request the United Nations (UN) for sending peacekeeping forces in Bangladesh to deal with the alleged atrocities on minorities in the neighbouring country.

 

“The chief minister’s presence at the event will surely help to counter BJP’s effort to turn the unrest in Bangladesh into a political tool,” said a senior TMC leader.