The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India responded to remarks made by Himanta Biswa Sarma, a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), regarding the repatriation of Bangladeshi nationals. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized that understanding the background of Sarma's comments is crucial, particularly the core issue of repatriation. Sarma had stated that deporting alleged illegal Bangladeshi immigrants is often complicated due to procedural hurdles and Dhaka's refusal to acknowledge these individuals. He mentioned that while approximately 1,400 Bangladeshis were officially pushed back, the actual number might be much higher. Following these comments, Bangladesh formally summoned India's Acting High Commissioner Pawan Badhe to lodge a protest, describing Sarma's statements as disparaging and potentially harmful to bilateral relations. The MEA has been proactive in sharing relevant data with Bangladesh to facilitate a smoother repatriation process.