Karachi: Indian-origin World Bank President Ajay Pal Singh Banga talked about his ancestral heritage during his visit to Pakistan's Sindh province on Wednesday (February 4). Banga had arrived in Sindh's Larkana along with his 10-member delegation. While addressing a small gathering, the World Bank chief spoke about his family's migration from Pakistan to India during the 1947 Partition.
During his address he also praised love he received from locals of his ancestral village during his visit to Khushab. However, netizens hit out at the World Bank President for his remarks. One of the X user called it "Stockholm Syndrome".
Here's What Banga Said:
“I was not born here, I was born in India’s Pune. Partition was very difficult for everyone. Whether you went to India from Pakistan or came to Pakistan from India, the whole house, system, family, half of the family was broken. Some stayed here, some went there. This was a traumatising thing.”
He revealed that his mother told him about their ancestral home in Pakistan Punjab's Khushab two to three years before her death.
“Two to three years before her death, my mother started telling me about Khushab village, we used to live there, we had land. My father used to do this, he used to do that. I was hearing this for the first time,” Banga said.
The World Bank chief further revealed that he first visited Pakistan in 1996, when he used to work for Citi Bank. He further stated that during his earlier visits, he travelled to Karachi only.
Banga credited former Executive Director of the World Bank Tauqeer Shah Sahib and current Executive Director of the bank Qasim for his current Pakistan visit. Earlier in the day, he was received by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah at Mohenjo Daro Airport.
He also lauded love and affection he received for locals of Khursab during the visit to his ancestral town.
Netizens Slam Banga:
Netizens hit out at Banga for praising Pakistani during his address. One of the X user called it a "classic case of Stockholm Syndrome".
"This is a classic case of "Stockholm Syndrome" where you love the person who tortures you. His family was ousted, killed and traumatized by those people and now look at his words! Pakis are good at diplomacy and buttering," the X user wrote.
"And why he is not there? Why did he have to migrate?" another X user commented.
On Tuesday, Banga visited his ancestral home in Khushab of Pakistan's Punjab province. Later on Wednesday, he also visited flood-affected areas in Sindh and assessed the damage caused by floods. Banga also paid homage at Gurdwara Singh Sabha, managed by the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), reported Pakistan's Hum English.
He also reportedly held talks with Pakistani government officials about key development projects.
Banga arrived in Pakistan on February 1.
