New Delhi: As tensions between India and Bangladesh continue to rise, New Delhi has vehemently rejected Dhaka’s remarks urging protection for Muslims in West Bengal, where violent protests erupted over the amended Waqf Bill. The Ministry of External Affairs criticized Bangladesh’s statement as a disingenuous attempt to draw parallels with India’s concerns about minority persecution in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh had urged the Indian government and West Bengal to ensure the safety of the minority Muslim population amid the violence, which was sparked by protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act. However, the MEA rejected these remarks, describing them as a thinly veiled effort to deflect attention from Bangladesh’s own record of minority persecution.
Protests in West Bengal quickly escalated into violence, particularly in Murshidabad and Bhangar, with clashes between protesters and security forces, and police vehicles being set on fire. At least three people lost their lives in these disturbances. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs raised suspicions about the involvement of Bangladeshi miscreants in the violence.
The West Bengal BJP unit reported that over 400 Hindus were forced to flee their homes in Murshidabad due to targeted violence. This incident has also highlighted India’s ongoing concerns about the persecution of religious minorities, particularly Hindus, in Bangladesh.
