Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Gowher Rizvi the Special Adviser to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has claimed that India has never raised the issue of illegal Bangladeshi migrants with his government.
Speaking at a conclave in Kolkata Rizvi said India has never raised the issue of illegal Bangladeshi migrants living on its soil with his government.
Calling the issue as an "internal Indian discussion", he said that the Bangladeshi's share a closest and the fondest of relationship with the current government.
He also asked the Indian government to prove that the 'illegal immigrants' of Northeast India are Bangladeshis.
Rizvi said he did not find it surprising that New Delhi never broached the illegal migrant issue with Dhaka, but contested Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju's statement that over 20 million illegal Bangladeshi migrants were now staying in India.
He also added that if there were Bangladeshis illegally staying in India, Bangladesh will obviously want to take its citizens back.
(With inputs from agencies)