NEW DELHI: Dialling up pressure on Bangladesh, govt on Friday said the interim govt in Dhaka must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities, instead of dismissing recent incidents of violence against Hindus and other minority communities as ‘media exaggeration’.
Responding to written questions in Lok Sabha about violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, external affairs minister S Jaishankar said Indian high commission in Dhaka was closely monitoring the situation. He reiterated that primary responsibility for safety of minorities in Bangladesh lies with the interim govt.
“Our position on the matter is clear – the interim govt in Dhaka must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities. We are concerned at surge of extremist rhetoric, increasing incidents of violence and provocation. These developments cannot be dismissed only as media exaggeration,” ministry of external affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
While expressing concern over extremist rhetoric, MEA also called for a “fair, just and transparent legal process” in case of religious leader Chinmoy Krishna Das who was arrested on sedition charges.
Amid calls in Dhaka for a ban on Iskcon, with which Das was associated earlier, Indian govt also threw in its lot with the group as Jaiswal said that the group is a “globally well regarded organisation with a strong record of social service”.
On arrest of Das, MEA said as far as cases against individuals were concerned, India took note of the legal processes that are underway. “We expect that these processes will deal with the case in a just, fair and transparent manner, ensuring full respect for the legal rights of all concerned.”
In Lok Sabha, the EAM said govt has seen several reports of incidents of violence against Hindus and other minorities, their homes and business establishments and of attacks on temples and religious places, including in Aug 2024, across Bangladesh.