December 11, 2024 – On Tuesday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), along with various Hindu organizations, staged a demonstration at Ghojadanga, located on the border with Bangladesh in Basirhat, North 24 Parganas district, to protest against the alleged persecution of religious minorities in Bangladesh.
The protest was led by Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, who criticized the worsening situation for minorities in Bangladesh. Adhikari strongly expressed that Bangladesh’s dependence on India is critical, stating, “We don’t depend on Bangladesh. Bangladesh depends on us… If we do not send 97 products, you will not get rice and clothes. If we do not send the electricity produced from Jharkhand, 80% of the villages will not be lit.”
Adhikari went further to make a provocative statement, threatening military action. “There are 40 Rafale aircraft stationed at Hasimara. Just sending two planes will do the job,” he said, underlining the tension.
Addressing the violence in Bangladesh, Adhikari demanded an end to the alleged atrocities and temple vandalism. He also targeted the Bangladesh government, led by Mohd Yunus, calling it extremist and comparing it to the Taliban. He expressed strong support for the return of Sheikh Hasina as the legitimate Prime Minister of Bangladesh, stating, “Sheikh Hasina is the legitimate Prime Minister. They (Yunus) are illegal. Sheikh Hasina as Prime Minister will land in Dhaka Airport. They have to receive her with a salute.”
The protest highlights the ongoing political and diplomatic tensions surrounding the treatment of religious minorities in Bangladesh, with India voicing its concerns over the situation.
