‘When going gets tougher, the tougher gets going’, and the Hindu community in Bangladesh is also doing the same against all atrocities being committed against them since change of government. Thousands of Hindus in the city came together on Tuesday to express their solidarity with brothers and sisters in Bangladesh, and also to issue a stern warning to majority community to be prepared to face consequences if they do not stop attacks on Hindu community and temples immediately.

 

Every Hindu in India is angered by atrocities against brethren in Bangladesh and will not tolerate the atrocities anymore, roared Sunil Ambekar, Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), while addressing grand public meeting at Variety Square on Tuesday. Sakal Hindu Samaj took out rallies from all parts of city that converged in city centre, to register protest against ongoing atrocities against the minority Hindus in Bangladesh plus Sikh, Jain, and Buddhist communities in recent months. The public meeting was held at Variety Square near statue of Mahatma Gandhi and it was a culmination of rallies taken out from all Contd from page 1 six assembly constituencies in the city. More than 150 organisations were involved in the protests and various political and religious leaders from Hindu, Jain, Sikh, and Buddhist communities were present at the programme. Ambekar in his presidential address warned that Bangladesh will have to face the long term consequences if the atrocities against Hindus are not stopped forthwith.

 

He said, “The political protest in Bangladesh turned into an hate campaign against the Hindus in Bangladesh. They are not only attacking Hindu citizens but also destroying idols and Hindu temples, and said it is not acceptable.” The atrocities against Hindus started after the student lead rebellion in Bangladesh in month of August when Sheikh Hasina, then Prime Minister of Bangladesh, was forced to resign and flee from country. New interim government in Bangladesh lead by Mohammed Yunus, Noble Peace Prize awardee, has been unsuccessful in stopping the attacks against minority communities, particularly Hindus in Bangladesh. The latest protests in India have been sparked by arrest of Swami Chinmoy Das, an ISKCON monk in the month of November. Govind Shende, Kshetriya Prant Mantri, Maharashtra and Goa, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), accused the majority population in Bangladesh of being ungrateful towards India. He said, the people in Bangladesh involved in atrocities against Hindus have forgotten the role of India in Bangladesh's war of Independence of 1971.

 

Instead they are acting just like Pakistan used to act against them.” He warned Bangladesh to stop the atrocities or they will have to face serious consequences. “If India can play a role in birth of Bangladesh, then it can also play a role in its destruction,” he cautioned. Shende added, “Hindus are a peace loving community, we focus on education. But ancient Indian society has also focused equally on weapon training along with education. Bangladesh should not consider Hindus as a weak community.” Ramesh Mantri, President, Sanskrut Bharati, Vidarbha, questioned opposition leaders and human rights organisations for their silence on atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh. He said, the same opposition parties and various human rights organisation who make hue and cry over any small incident in India, have not uttered a word against continuos violence against Hindus in Bangladesh till now. He also accused foreign powers with vested interests of trying to destabilise India's growth by destabilising the countries around India. Jitendra alias Bunty Kukde, City President, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), gave a rousing speech at the public meeting that energised the crowd.

 

He warned Bangladesh citizens not to test patience of India Hindu community by continuing atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh. He said, this is new Hindu of new Bharat and is not bound by any borders. If the Saints of Hindu community issues orders, Indian Hindu would not hesitate to take over Dhaka to protect our Hindu brothers and sisters in Bangladesh.” Savita Mate, wife of MLA Mohan Mate, appealed the Government to put pressure on Bangladesh. She asked to cut power supply being supplied by Adani Power; cut all trade ties with Bangladesh; send back all Bangladeshi students studying in Indian varsities and taking the issue of atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh to UN or other international forum. Adv Dharampal Meshram, Bhante Pradnyashil Gautam and other dignitaries also addressed the gathering on the occasion.

 

 

measures for release of Chinmoy Das Sakal Hindu Samaj addressed a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking steps on part of Government of India for ensuring protection of Hindus in Bangladesh. The memorandum to PM was submitted to District Collector. The memorandum lodged strong protest against the atrocities being committed by majority community in Bangladesh against minority Hindus including Sikh, Jain, and Buddhist communities. The memorandum demanded Indian and Bangladeshi Governments should take steps to stop atrocities against Hindus immediately, and normalcy be restored as before; and the lives of minorities in Bangladesh should be secure.

 

Sakal Hindu Samaj also demanded that the Indian Government should issue a strict warning to their counterpart in Bangladesh and Human Rights Organisations should take this issue at all international forums. The memorandum also called unconditional release of Chinmoy Das, an ISKCON monk,; security should be provided to actors, sportsperson, political leaders from minorities community and also to Hindu temples in the country. The memorandum is signed by Amol Thakre, Coordinator, Sakal Hindu Samaj; Rajesh Loya, Mahanagar Sanghachalak, RSS; Arvind Kukde, Vidarbha Prant Sampark Pramukh; Ravindra Bokare, Nagpur Mahanagar Karyavah; Shrimant Raje Mudhoji Bhonsle; Shrimant Mata Rajeshwari; Sanjay Bhende; Pragati Patil; and Ramesh Mantri among others.