Bangladesh Unrest: VHP Calls for Indian Citizenship for Persecuted Hindus

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has urged the Indian government to grant citizenship to Hindus fleeing religious persecution in Bangladesh. On 8 August 2024, a press conference was held where Purna Chandra Mandal, the Guwahati Kshetra Dharma Prasar Pramukh, addressed the media. Also present were Shantanu Nayak, the VHP South-East Prant President, Prant Trustee Pradeep Kumar Dey, Prant Treasurer Debabrata Pal, and Prachar Prasar Pramukh Shamindra Pal.

During the press conference, Purna Chandra Mandal spoke about the alarming situation in Bangladesh following the recent unrest. He highlighted how the protests, which began as student-led demonstrations against job quotas, quickly escalated into widespread violence targeting the Hindu minority. He expressed deep concern over the current state of affairs, noting that the condition of Hindus in Bangladesh has deteriorated significantly.

The protests in Bangladesh started as a reaction to the government’s reinstatement of job quotas, which students felt were discriminatory. The movement grew rapidly, leading to clashes between protesters, police, and supporters of Sheikh Hasina’s ruling party. The situation reached a tipping point when Hasina was forced to resign, plunging the country into chaos.

Following Hasina’s ousting, the condition of Hindus in Bangladesh worsened dramatically. Reports emerged of mobs looting and burning Hindu homes and temples, including several ISKCON sites. Mandal condemned these attacks, stressing that Hindus in Bangladesh, who have seen their population dwindle from 32% in 1971 to 8% today, are not to blame for the partition of India that left them in a Muslim-majority nation.

Purna Chandra Mandal also took the opportunity to criticize Gobinda Pramanik, a former VHP member now associated with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Mandal accused Pramanik of acting in his own interest rather than supporting the Hindu community, particularly in his recent comments downplaying the violence against Hindus. Mandal suggested that Pramanik’s statements were made to curry favor with the BNP.

Mandal did not shy away from blaming the Indian National Congress for the partition of India, which he believes left Hindus in Bangladesh vulnerable. He argued that leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, driven by their power ambitions, failed to protect the interests of Hindus in the region, leading to the current plight of the community.

The VHP, through Mandal, demanded that the Indian government allow Hindus facing religious persecution in any country, including Bangladesh, to gain Indian citizenship. Mandal emphasized that Hindus should always have a home in India and that the government has a moral obligation to provide refuge to those in need.

While the situation in Bangladesh remains dire, there have been reports of Bangladeshi citizens stepping forward to protect their Hindu neighbours. In some instances, Muslims have banded together to defend temples and homes, demonstrating unity amidst the conflict. However, the situation is delicate, and it is better to avoid sharing potentially fabricated content on social media, which could further inflame tensions and disrupt peace in local communities.