The outfit named by the Bangladesh authorities for the “disgraceful” breach of safety at its Assistant Excessive Fee in Agartala on Monday, the Hindu Sangharsh Samiti (HSS), was shaped simply over per week in the past, with the purpose of “uniting the lots” in opposition to alleged atrocities on Hindus, following the arrest of a Hindu monk in Bangladesh.
HSS chief Shankar Roy describes the Samiti as an umbrella organisation of Hindutva teams and “like-minded social boards such because the RSS and VHP”. Comparable outfits have been shaped in each district of the nation over the previous week, he informed The Indian Specific.
Following the incident on the Bangladesh Assistant Excessive Fee, through which alleged HSS members vandalised the property and took down the Bangladeshi flag, seven folks have been arrested and later launched on bail.
BJP leaders in addition to members of RSS-affiliated outfits VHP and Bajrang Dal have been a part of comparable protests being held in opposition to “atrocities” on Hindus in Bangladesh throughout Tripura and West Bengal.
Talking to The Indian Specific, the VHP and Bajrang Dal didn’t deny affiliation with the HSS, however mentioned they’d no position within the assault on the Bangladesh mission.
Senior VHP chief Purna Chandra Mandal, who was current on the protest on the Bangladesh mission and delivered a speech there, mentioned the HSS solely desires to make sure that the Indian authorities pressures Bangladesh to cease hostilities in opposition to Hindus and calls for the fast launch of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das.
Mandal mentioned that the HSS solely deliberate to submit a memorandum to Assistant Excessive Fee officers on Monday. On the violence that adopted, he mentioned: “A lot of folks assembled and it’s pure that not everybody will know one another. I simply delivered my speech and didn’t see what occurred.”
Supporters of Sanatani Yuba stage a protest in Agartala. (Photograph: ANI)
Whereas regretting the violence, Mandal mentioned: “I really feel it’s a reflection of the general public anguish in opposition to the happenings in Bangladesh.”
Amol Chakraborty, the ‘Kshetra Sanyojak’ of the Bajrang Dal, overlaying West Bengal, Odisha, Sikkim and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, mentioned the time had come for Hindus to “unite and press Bangladesh to return to democracy”.
BJP Tripura vice-president Subal Bhowmik mentioned what occurred on the Bangladesh mission was “small”, although violence may have been prevented. “Youths who entered the Assistant Excessive Fee’s premises didn’t harm anybody. They simply eliminated the flag and got here again. The Tricolour is being repeatedly insulted in Bangladesh. As an alternative of protesting in opposition to that, the safety breach is being projected as an enormous problem,” he mentioned.
The VHP’s Mandal additionally talked about organisations “comparable” to the HSS, such because the ‘Sanatani Aikya Mancha’ that, he mentioned, is engaged on the identical points in Assam’s Barak Valley. “The names are totally different, however the organisations have come into existence with the identical goal,” he mentioned, including that the HSS will proceed its protests and, if vital, urge India to sever all ties with Bangladesh, together with the provision of meals and aid supplies to it.
“Each time one thing occurs (in Bangladesh), it’s the Hindus who are suffering, whether or not it was earlier (through the Sheikh Hasina regime) or now. This conspiracy and the atrocities should cease. We helped them acquire Independence. If they don’t change, we wish India to boycott Bangladesh,” Mandal mentioned.
Different outfits known as ‘Vedic Brahmin Samaj’, ‘Jago Hindu Jago’ and ‘Sanatani Yuva’ have additionally been holding protests in Agartala in addition to close to the border with Bangladesh. Amongst these current on the Sanatani Yuva protest on Wednesday was former Union minister of state Pratima Bhowmik. Addressing the protest, she slammed “the barbarism” occurring in Bangladesh. “Properties of Sanatani minorities are being looted, they’re being forcefully transformed, their daughters gangraped… Everybody ought to elevate their voice in opposition to this.”
CPI(M) Tripura state secretary and Chief of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury mentioned that whereas his get together additionally condemns the “atrocities” in opposition to Hindus in Bangladesh, any protests ought to be “democratic”. “It’s not simply us alone however all democratic folks oppose the blatant atrocities on minorities in Bangladesh. Nevertheless, our protests should be democratic and in accordance with the legal guidelines of the land in addition to worldwide legal guidelines,” he informed The Indian Specific.
In his response to the violence, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha had posted on Fb: “Some folks have been holding a peaceable demonstration in opposition to widespread atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh close to the Gandhi statue. However few youths all of the sudden tried to enter the Bangladesh Assistant Excessive Fee workplace. I condemn this incident. Peaceable motion/protest might proceed however these kinds of actions are totally undesired.”
In West Bengal too, TMC leaders say that the protests in opposition to Bangladesh contain seemingly apolitical “new” organisations just like the HSS, which declare to signify Hindu rights, and are of the identical nature as outfits that held widespread protests within the state within the wake of the R G Kar rape-murder.
Earlier this week, an organisation named as ‘Sanatani Oikyo Parishad’ led the protests on the Bangladesh border, with many BJP leaders and MLAs, together with Chief of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, attending. The Hindu Jagran Manch and a ‘Hindu Sanhati Manch’ have additionally held rallies within the state on the matter.
On Wednesday, the Bharat Sevashram Sangha, an order of monks, approached the Bangladesh Deputy Excessive Fee in Kolkata with a memorandum. The pinnacle of its Beldanga wing, Kartik Maharaj, informed The Indian Specific: “What is going on in Bangladesh… we are able to’t categorical it in phrases. We’ve got appealed to the Bangladesh Excessive Fee to take fast motion, and likewise urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the House Minister to take vital motion to safeguard the minority Hindus in Bangladesh. If motion just isn’t taken, we’ll step up the protests.”
On Wednesday, the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha known as for a boycott of Bangladeshi Muslims visiting West Bengal. Its West Bengal chief Chandrachur Goswami mentioned Indians ought to deny providers and lodging to Bangladeshi residents till the nation apologises for the alleged desecration of the Indian flag.
A senior RSS pracharak in West Bengal mentioned: “Hindus usually aren’t united and so different communities would take benefit. However now the state of affairs is totally different and each Hindu realises that we should always come out on the roads in opposition to the atrocities in opposition to Hindus in Bangladesh.”
A senior BJP chief mentioned: “Sure, Hindu teams are protesting in opposition to the atrocities in opposition to Hindus in Bangladesh. A few of them could also be with the BJP or the RSS. That isn’t a criminal offense.”
The ruling TMC has accused the BJP of attempting to “communalise” the state of affairs by “scary” Hindus. TMC chief Kunal Ghosh mentioned, “What is going on in Bangladesh just isn’t acceptable. Our Chief Minister has already appealed to the Central authorities to take vital motion. Why is the BJP doing rallies right here? They need to strategy the Central authorities… The BJP is just attempting to impress Hindus for votes.”
