Suvendu demands suspension of visa services for Bangladesh

Hindu groups organise protests in Kakdwip, Krishnanagar and other towns; State Congress president Subhankar Sarkar leads procession in Kolkata

Legislators of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday (November 27, 2024) held a demonstration outside the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, demanding the release of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, who was arrested in Bangladesh on November 25.

Eight MLAs led by the Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly. Suvendu Adhikari, marched from Rabindra Sadan to the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission, holding photographs of the arrested monk associated with ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), and submitted a deputation to officials of the High Commission.

Describing the demonstration as “protest for the existence” of Hindus, Mr. Adhikari said the BJP would intensify protests if Mr. Das was not released from custody.

“Stop issuing visas [to the people of Bangladesh] completely. We will go to visa office tomorrow, if required. Also, stop issuance of permits for export and import. We will wait for a day and launch a blockade at the India-Bangladesh border at Petrapole in North 24 Parganas district, in case the incidents of alleged tortures are not stopped,” Mr. Adhikari said.

Mr. Adhikari was joined by seven senior BJP MLAs, including Agnimitra Paul, Sankar Ghosh, and Subrata Thakur. The Leader of the Opposition drew a parallel between the situation in Bangladesh and that in West Bengal, and said that the “likes of those on whom Dr. Yunus (Chief Adviser of Bangladesh Muhammad Yunus) is placing his trust, here (in West Bengal) also, Mamata Banerjee is encouraging such elements”.

The BJP leader commented on the anti-India remarks made by certain leaders from the neighbouring country. “Go to Pakistan for treatment instead of coming to India,” he said. “Don’t come here for treatment. Go to Karachi or Lahore,” he added.

A large number of people from Bangladesh come to Kolkata and other Indian cities for medical treatment.

On Thursday, another rally has been called by the Hindu Jagaran Manch, from Sealdah to the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission on the same issue. The West Bengal unit of the BJP has also called a rally on December 16 to mark protests against the attack on minorities in Bangladesh. December 16 is observed as ‘Victory Day’ to commemorate the defeat of the Pakistani Armed Forces in the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.

Meanwhile, protests were organised by Hindu groups not only in Kolkata, but also in other towns in West Bengal, including Kakdwip and Krishnanagar, against attacks on minorities in Bangladesh. There were protests in Agartala, Tripura’s capital city. The Congress leadership also held a procession led by State Congress president Subhankar Sarkar from the ISKCON office in Kolkata.

West Bengal shares a 2,216-km border with Bangladesh, and because of similarities of language and culture, developments in the neighbouring country create ripples in the State.

The Trinamool Congress leadership and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee have maintained silence on the developments in Bangladesh. Ms. Banerjee has said that developments in Bangladesh come under the ambit of the Ministry of External Affairs, and her government would support the stand taken by the Union government.

Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, while speaking on similar lines, condemned the violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh.

Published - November 27, 2024 10:29 pm IST