BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in West Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari, reiterated his stance on Tuesday that sending just two Rafale fighter jets to Bangladesh would be enough, as tensions rise over the alleged persecution of religious minorities, particularly Hindus, in the neighbouring country.
Adhikari led protests organized by the BJP and various Hindu organizations at Ghojadanga, near the Bangladesh border in Basirhat, North 24 Parganas district. The protest was aimed at condemning the alleged targeted violence against Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh. Adhikari, during the protest, sharply criticized the situation in Bangladesh, asserting that the country was deteriorating under the current regime.
“We do not need to depend on Bangladesh; it is Bangladesh that depends on us,” Adhikari remarked. “If we stop sending 97 essential goods, Bangladesh will lose access to rice and clothes. If we halt the electricity supply from Jharkhand, 80% of the villages will remain in the dark.”
Addressing Bangladesh, he further warned, “We have 40 Rafale jets stationed at Hasimara. Sending just two of them will do the job.”
Adhikari also demanded an end to the violence and vandalization of temples and announced that a larger gathering would be held on December 16. He condemned the government of Mohammad Yunus, describing it as “extremist, radical, and anti-human,” and likened it to the Taliban’s approach.
In India, protests have been intensifying due to the rising number of attacks on Hindus and other religious minorities in Bangladesh. This follows the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, which has further exacerbated the situation for religious minorities in the region.
On Tuesday, Bangladesh acknowledged that there had been 88 instances of communal violence targeting minorities, with over 70 people arrested for these incidents. This information was shared after India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri raised the issue of the safety and security of minorities during meetings with Bangladeshi officials.
The recent surge in violence against Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh, coupled with the attacks on temples, has sparked serious concerns in New Delhi, with the Indian government seeking urgent measures to address the situation.