India has no intention to "interfere” in the internal affairs of Bangladesh, said New Delhi yesterday.

It also said it wanted that the people of Bangladesh, which is witnessing violence in the run-up to the January 5 polls, overcome their differences through peaceful means.

"We do not have any intention to interfere in the internal affairs of Bangladesh. But as a friendly neighbour and as a well-wisher, we do hope that the people of Bangladesh and their leaders can arrive at solutions and at outcomes which enable the people here, who are living in Bangladesh to realise their aspirations," said the spokesperson at the external affairs ministry.

He added that as a neighbour of Bangladesh

and as the two countries that shares such a long border, neither India nor Bangladesh could remain unaffected or be indifferent to what happened in each other's country.

"We have an interest in what happens in Bangladesh and I am sure Bangladesh has a similar interest in what happens in India.

"That is because at one level, the destinies of our two peoples and our countries are very, very closely linked, more than perhaps any other two countries in the region," he said.

The spokesperson also said: "We would wish them | Bangladesh] to overcome theirdifferences to be able to resolve their differences in a manner which is peaceful, which is done through dialogue, through discussion. And the outcome should be such that is acceptable to all the people of Bangladesh."