Under the banner of the Defenders of Human Rights organisation, a protest was held on Thursday at CTO Chowk in Shimla against the atrocities, massacres, and destruction of temples targeting Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh. A large public gathering was organised, where several religious and social organisations from Shimla district participated, raised slogans, and condemned the inhumane behaviour in Bangladesh.
Call for International Intervention to Protect Religious Minorities
Prof. Ajay Srivastava, a member of the Defenders of Human Rights, stated that the inhumane treatment of religious minorities in Bangladesh is a matter of grave concern. “Hindus, whether in Bangladesh or elsewhere, are our brothers, and such mistreatment will not be tolerated,” he said. He urged the public to remain united and continue to raise their voices for their Hindu brethren.
Swami Tanmahimanananda Ji Maharaj, Secretary of Ramakrishna Mission, Himachal Pradesh, Shimla, emphasized the need to speak out against the persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh. He stated that Hindu society in both Islamic nations and Bharat must remain vigilant to potential threats. Addressing the gathering, he pointed out that the situation of atrocities against minorities, particularly Hindus, in Bangladesh is extremely alarming and is a cause for concern across the Hindu community.
Mukul Sood from the Ram Mandir Sood Sabha also addressed the gathering. He mentioned that, as per Justice Surinder Thakur, heinous crimes such as violence, murder, and rape against Hindus have been occurring since the partition of India in East Pakistan and later in Bangladesh after its creation in 1971. He lamented that such incidents are being repeated in the 21st century.
A delegation of protesters later submitted a memorandum to district commissioner demanded the Bangladesh government to ensure the rights of Hindus and other minorities while also appealing to the United Nations to form an independent commission to investigate the violence and hold those responsible accountable. Additionally, it advocated for targeted measures to rehabilitate impacted communities and safeguard the rights of women and children.
The protest was attended by various religious and social leaders, including Madan Thakur, Co-Convenor of Devbhoomi Sangharsh Samiti, Anita Thakur of Hindu Jagran Mahila Pramukh, and Ajit Kumar, alongside numerous local residents of Shimla. The protest was peaceful, with participants appealing to the international community to ensure the safety of religious minorities in Bangladesh.