NEW DELHI: Hundreds of protesters, including members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and civil society groups, held a protest march in the national capital’s Chanakyapuri area on Tuesday, decrying alleged human rights violations against Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh.
The demonstration, marked by placards and slogans, called upon the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to intervene.
The protest took place near the Bangladesh High Commission, prompting authorities to deploy additional security personnel to prevent any disruption. “We have strengthened security arrangements to ensure law and order is maintained,” a senior police official said.
Protesters accused the Bangladeshi authorities of turning a blind eye to the alleged targeting of Hindus, who constitute about eight per cent of Bangladesh’s 170 million population. They alleged over 200 attacks on Hindus across 50 districts since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government on August 5.
Virender Singh, a Delhi resident participating in the march, said, “We strongly condemn the atrocities on minorities, especially Hindus, in Bangladesh. We demand an immediate end to these violations.” Protesters termed the violence as “Hindu genocide” and urged the Bangladeshi government to ensure the safety of its minorities.
The protests occurred a day after a high-level meeting in Dhaka between India’s Vikram Misri and Bangladesh’s Mohammad Jashim Uddin, marking the first Indian visit since Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule ended amid massive protests. The discussions aimed to address strained bilateral relations amidst growing tensions in Bangladesh over minority safety and political instability.
Tensions in Bangladesh have surged after the arrest of a Hindu spiritual leader under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus’s interim government.
India has suspended all visas, except for medical emergencies, following Sheikh Hasina’s exit. Security threats have also forced Indian workers on infrastructure projects to leave, raising concerns over minority safety and escalating regional instability.