Such attacks on the followers of traditional religions of Bangladesh during Durga Puja have not happened in recent times. So many temples were not vandalized, so many idols were not destroyed. Yet India’s ruling Hindutva party, the BJP, is silent. The government is also silent. Apart from expressing confidence in Sheikh Hasina’s government, India has not officially issued a statement condemning or criticizing these incidents. The government and the rulers hope that the democratic and non-communal government of Bangladesh will deal with these incidents with a firm hand. Will punish the guilty.
Former Indian Foreign Secretary Muchkunda Dubey said it was difficult for the Indian government to publicly criticize and condemn the recent rise in Bangladesh’s relations with India. In this regard, he said in the first light on Tuesday, India has done well without making harsh statements. Because, it would burn in the fire. Without it, there would be no profit. With that, India prefers to remain silent, relying on the Bangladesh government. But Muchkunda Dubey also reminded that in the recent incidents against minorities in India and which are still sporadic, India has no face to condemn this incident in Bangladesh. He said that one cannot throw stones at others by living in a glass house. Extremist Hindutva India has lost the moral right to condemn the events in Bangladesh.
Officially, Sriradha Dutta, a senior fellow at the Vivekananda International Foundation and a Bangladesh expert, wants to see India’s silence in a slightly different light. In the first light on Tuesday, he said in this context, Sheikh Hasina’s Bangladesh relations with India now, it would be embarrassing for Hasina to say something officially. Naturally, India does not want to embarrass him. So this silence. However, Sriradha said, “I am sure that the leaders of the two countries must have talked about these tragic events. It is clear that India has faith in Hasina. India does not want to lose that place of trust.
After this incident, Veena Sikri confirmed the dialogue between the leaders of the two countries. The former Indian diplomat and former Indian high commissioner to Bangladesh told Prothom Alo on Tuesday, “India’s relationship with Hasina has no room for public criticism or harsh response. Neither should. Because there is a risk of the opposite. We have to see that India’s trust in Hasina does not fail. The perpetrators need to be punished exemplary and quickly. I think the government of India and the ruling party of India, the BJP, have not yet opened their mouths to this heinous act.
Former diplomats and Bangladeshi observers say the secular nature of the country is not over with the way ordinary peace-loving and non-communal people have taken to the streets in protest. However, Veena Sikri thinks that it is a matter of concern if the detectives of Bangladesh do not get the advance information of such a large scale incident. But even more worrying, if the action is not taken despite the advance news. He said protests were staged across the country during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh last March. Detectives failed to stop it. This time too. It’s unfortunate. According to him, if it is a conspiracy to put the government in trouble, then it is a matter of concern for Prime Minister Hasina. He has to sit motionless.
Despite the silence of the BJP and the government, the Sangha family and Hindutva activists continue to try to polarize religion. From the BJP’s point of view, this is a kind of political strategy. West Bengal BJP leaders Dilip Ghosh and Anirban Gangopadhyay joined a protest rally on behalf of the ‘Bengali Hindu Bachao Samiti’ at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Tuesday. They urged Sheikh Hasina to be tough and said that she could not forget how India has repeatedly stood by Bangladesh. The World Hindu Council has taken steps to celebrate Akrosh Day in different parts of the country. At a press conference in Delhi on Tuesday, they said that where Muslims are the majority in the world, Hindus are oppressed. The leader of this organization Surendra Jain said that the government should take strict measures to protect the Hindus of Bangladesh. The BJP is very active on social media about this incident.
