Hostilities cannot be ignored as political violence: India questions Yunus govt over minority attacks

New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday condemned the hostilities against minorities in Bangladesh. Responding to a media query, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India is closely monitoring the continued attacks on Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists.

Speaking at a press briefing, Jaiswal expressed grief over the recent mob lynching of a Hindu youth in Mymensingh. The MEA reiterated that "targeted hostilities" cannot be dismissed as political violence.

At the press conference, the MEA stated that India has rejected the false anti-India narrative being projected in Bangladesh and reiterated that maintaining law and order and ensuring security is the responsibility of Bangladesh’s interim government. Jaiswal urged the interim government to provide protection to minorities and take the necessary steps to restore safety and normalcy.

Referring to the return of Khaleda Zia’s son to Bangladesh after spending 17 years in exile, Jaiswal said India supports free, fair, and inclusive elections in the country and that the development should be viewed in that context.

The MEA said, "We remain fully committed to ensuring that people who are fugitives and wanted by law in India return to the country. We are in talks with several governments, and processes are underway. There are several layers of legalities involved, but we remain committed to bringing them back so they can face trial before courts here.”

The development comes at a time when Bangladesh is witnessing continued violence, with frequent reports of mob lynching incidents. Media houses and cultural organisations have also been targeted following the killing of protest leader Osman Sharif Hadi. Meanwhile, the Yunus-led government is holding high-level meetings and making preparations for Christmas, New Year, and other festivities, as authorities attempt to maintain law and order amid ongoing political unrest.

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Referring to the surge in visa cancellations by the US authorities,  Jaiswal stated that the Government is concerned about these issues, which have caused inconvenience for citizens, including disruptions to education. The Ministry is engaged in discussions with US officials in both New Delhi and Washington, DC, to address these concerns.