Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Anurag Thakur has criticized Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and the Congress party for their focus on Gaza while remaining silent about the atrocities against Hindus and other minority communities in Bangladesh.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha on Friday, Thakur highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had reminded the interim head of Bangladesh’s government about the importance of ensuring the peace, security, and development of Hindus and other religious minorities in the country.
Thakur stated, “We are all concerned about the recent events in our neighboring country, Bangladesh. Prime Minister Modi not only congratulated the head of the interim government but also stressed the need to protect Hindus and religious minorities there. It is unfortunate that Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge have not expressed any concern about the safety of Hindus in their statements.”
Thakur questioned why the Congress party had not addressed minority protection in their congratulatory messages to Bangladesh’s new interim government. He asked why, amidst nationwide concern for Hindus in Bangladesh, the Leader of the Opposition and other opposition members have been reluctant to address the issue.
Thakur further added, “The Congress Party often makes grand statements about Gaza, expressing concern over the situation there, yet they choose to remain silent about the atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh. Why is Congress and Rahul Gandhi so focused on Gaza while ignoring the persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh? Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi write extensively about Gaza, but their double standards are clear when they have nothing to say about the violence against Hindus in Bangladesh.”
Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Modi congratulated Professor Muhammad Yunus on his appointment as the head of Bangladesh’s interim government and emphasized the need to restore normalcy and protect Hindu minorities.
“We hope for a swift return to normalcy and the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities. India remains committed to working with Bangladesh to achieve our shared goals of peace, security, and development,” Modi stated in a post on X.
In response to the situation, the central government has formed a five-member committee to monitor the India-Bangladesh border (IBB). The Border Management Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced that the committee will maintain communication with Bangladeshi authorities to ensure the safety of Indian citizens and minority communities in Bangladesh.
The committee will be chaired by Ravi Gandhi, Additional Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF), Eastern Command. It will also include an Inspector General (IG) from BSF Frontier HQ South Bengal, an IG from BSF Frontier HQ Tripura, a Member of the Planning and Development Division of the Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI), and the Secretary of LPAI.
The political situation in Bangladesh remains tense, with broader anti-government protests following former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation amid student-led demonstrations demanding an end to the quota system for government jobs.