Historically India is a secular state. If India slips from that place then its secular position will be weaker.
Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen told this in a reaction to the passing of the controversial NRC bill by a large majority in the Lokshava.
On Wednesday (Dec.11) in reply to question of journalists he told this in the foreign ministry.
On last Monday in the Indian Lokshava home minister Amit Shah quoting the constitutions of three countries including Bangladesh said that as Islam is the state religion of these three countries so the people of other religions are being repressed.
In reaction to Indian home minister’s contention, Dr. Momen said, in our country the minorities are never repressed. In our country everybody observes religious festival almost collectively though the religion is different. In our country no one of other religion is repressed or suppressed. Recently many people are returning to our country because we are on the highway of development. There is deep regards towards all religion.
We consider people of all religious beliefs equally as a citizen of Bangladesh. We only consider that whether he is a Bangladeshi or not. We do not look to their cast and creed. Their principal fitness in job is their nationality whether he is a Bangladeshi or not. There are people of all religions in our all kinds of job.
‘The contention of India is that the minorities are being repressed’ is not true and not based on facts. Those who supplied this information they did not speak the truth. I hope that the leaders of the minorities in our country will speak out about this matter. Earlier I have said that India is our friendly country, relation between two countries is going through very cordial which has been termed Narendra Modi as ‘golden era’. Our people expect that India would definitely not do any thing which can be a matter of agony for our people.