"Any Rhetoric...": PM's Message To Bangladesh Leader After Northeast Remark | Read

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Muhammad Yunus, chief advisor of Bangladesh's interim government, met on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok today. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval were also present. The Prime Minister raised with the Bangladesh leader India's concerns on the safety of minorities in the neighbouring country. He also suggested Dhaka to avoid "rhetoric that vitiates the environment", weeks after Mr Yunus' remarks on the Northeast drew sharp responses from Indian leaders.

"The Prime Minister reiterated India's support for a democratic, stable peaceful, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh. He underlined that India believed in a people-centric approach to the relationship and highlighted the cooperation between the two countries over a long period of time that has delivered tangible benefits to people in both countries. In this spirit, he once again underlined to Professor Yunus India's desire to forge a positive and constructive relationship with Bangladesh based on pragmatism," Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri told the media later.