New Delhi [India], December 27 : Congress MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh on Friday said that the Indian government should ensure the safety of Hindus in Bangladesh and resolve this problem through dialogue.
"The government should resolve this problem through dialogue and protect its citizens... The Indian government should guarantee the safety of its citizens. The External Affairs Minister and Prime Minister Modi should immediately speak to the Bangladeshi government on this matter," he said.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Harish Rawat said, "Today, all civilised countries of the world are condemning Bangladesh... The violent propaganda being spread abroad is unfortunate. We should start our outreach programs in other countries with the help of our High Commissions and embassies so that our country's image in the eyes of other nations is different from that of Pakistan..."
The lynching of two Hindu Bangladeshis sparked a massive political row in India, with protests erupting in West Bengal and Assam demanding accountability from the neighbouring country's government.
Multiple organisations, mostly pro-Hindu activists in saffron-clad clothes, dominated the streets of Kolkata on Friday, demanding that the atrocities being committed against minorities, especially Hindus, be stopped.
India has raised serious concerns over repeated incidents of violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh, including Hindus, Christians and Buddhists and said it is closely monitoring the situation in the neighbouring country.
Briefing the media in New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the Indian government was disturbed by the sustained hostility faced by minority communities."India is closely monitoring developments and has expressed grave concern over the continued hostility of minorities, including Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists. We condemn the recent killing of a Hindu youth in Mymensingh and expect that the perpetrators of the crime will be brought to justice," Jaiswal said.
Placing the issue in a broader context, the MEA pointed out that more than 2,900 incidents of violence against minorities have been recorded during the tenure of Bangladesh's interim government.
These incidents include killings, arson, and land grabbing."These incidents cannot be brushed aside as mere media exaggerations or dismissed as political violence," the spokesperson said.