On Wednesday, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to intervene and protect minority Hindus in Bangladesh. This follows reports of violence targeting Hindus in the country after protests led to the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Thackeray, who is in Delhi meeting with INDIA bloc leaders to discuss the upcoming Assembly elections in Maharashtra, Haryana, and Jharkhand, suggested that if Modi could address the conflict in Ukraine, he should also act to safeguard Hindus in Bangladesh.
“If Prime Minister Modi can stop the war in Ukraine, he should also take steps to help Hindus in Bangladesh,” Thackeray said.
He criticized a BJP campaign advertisement, quipping, “If he can stop the war between Ukraine and Russia, he should also address this issue. The atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh demand justice.”
Thackeray emphasized that it is the responsibility of the Modi government to protect Hindus in Bangladesh from ongoing violence.
Expressing concerns about potential similar situations in India, Thackeray said, “Do you want a similar situation to arise here? To prevent this, timely actions and dialogue with all parties are necessary.”
Regarding the situation in Bangladesh, Thackeray warned that the situation should serve as a lesson, saying, “The people are supreme, and no politician should test their patience. The people’s court has already given its ruling in Bangladesh.”
He also noted that protestors in Bangladesh were derogatorily referred to as “razakars,” and drew a parallel to how farmers protesting in Delhi were labeled as terrorists. “This situation in Bangladesh is a warning to all. No one should consider themselves above others. We are all human,” Thackeray added.
Sheikh Hasina resigned as Prime Minister of Bangladesh on Tuesday and departed Dhaka on a military aircraft. She arrived at Hindon airport in Ghaziabad and is currently staying in a safe house in India, with potential plans to move to Europe.