‘Hindu persecution in Bangladesh cause of concern’: RSS calls for global action

BENGALURU: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Saturday called for an urgent international intervention to stop violence against Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh, warning that the community faces an existential crisis in that country. Calling for global solidarity, it also urged the United Nations and the international community to pressure Bangladesh to halt the attacks.

The Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS), RSS' highest decision-making body, passed a resolution on the second day of its three-day meet in Bengaluru, expressing serious concern over "planned violence" by radical Islamist elements.

The resolution highlighted the sharp decline in the Hindu population in Bangladesh from 22% in 1951 to just 7.9% today. "The Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha expresses its serious concern on the unabated and planned violence, injustice, and oppression faced by the Hindu and other minority communities at the hands of radical Islamist elements in Bangladesh. This is clearly a serious violation of human rights," RSS joint general secretary Arun Kumar alleged, reading the resolution.

ABPS also urged the Union govt to make "all possible efforts" to ensure the "protection, dignity, and well-being" of Hindus in Bangladesh while engaging with Dhaka in a "continuous and meaningful dialogue." The resolution condemned the alleged Bangladeshi govt and institutional support for the violence, warning that such actions could severely strain ties between the two countries.

"The governmental and institutional support for the violence and hatred witnessed during last year is a serious cause of concern. Along with this, the persistent anti-Bharat rhetoric in Bangladesh can severely damage the relationship between the two countries," the resolution said.

ABPS also raised concerns over external forces attempting to destabilise the region. "There is a concerted effort on the part of some international forces to foment instability in the entire region surrounding Bharat by creating an atmosphere of distrust and confrontation, pitting one country against another. ABPS calls upon thought leaders and scholars in international relations to keep a vigil on such anti-Bharat atmosphere, activities of Pakistan and the deep state, and expose them," it added.

Kumar also emphasised that the 1947 partition was based on land, not population and that the original agreement between India and Pakistan included the protection of minorities. He said Bangladesh failed to uphold this principle after its creation, leading to the persecution of Hindus.

Despite the challenges, he acknowledged the Indian govt's efforts in addressing the issue. "So far, the steps taken by the Indian govt are commendable... The Hindus and minorities in Bangladesh cannot be ignored, and if something major happens in the future, we will then decide what needs to be done," he stated.