Hindu Minority in Bangladesh Must be Protected: PM Modi

New Delhi: In his Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the Red For, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoped that the situation in Bangladesh will improve soon even as he expressed concern over the safety of Hindus and other minorities in that country.  "As a neighbouring country, I can understand the concern regarding whatever has happened in Bangladesh. I hope that the situation there gets normal at the earliest. The concerns of 140 crore countrymen to ensure the safety of Hindus and minorities there - India always wants our neighbouring countries to walk the path of prosperity and peace. We are committed to peace...In the days to come, we will continue to wish well for Bangladesh in its 'Vikas Yatra' because we think about the welfare of humankind."

Earlier while extending his wish to Professor Muhammad Yunus, the head of the newly formed interim government of Bangladesh, PM Modi had sent a clear message over the atrocities against the Hindu community. He raised concerns over the protection of Hindus and other minority communities in Bangladesh after several reports of attacks on Hindu families surfaced. "My best wishes to Professor Muhammad Yunus on the assumption of his new responsibilities. We hope for an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities", PM Modi had said. 

For the unversed, Muhammad Yunus, 84, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his pioneering work on microlending, was appointed by President Mohammed Shahabuddin as the head of the interim government after Prime Minister Hasina resigned and fled to India following widespread protests against her regime over a controversial quota system in jobs.

Yesterday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, while speaking at a function in Lucknow on Partition Horrors Remembrance Day said, “The date and faces might have changed but the nature of incidents is the same as 1947. It is still happening in Pakistan. It is happening in Bangladesh.”

"At that time, 10 lakh Hindus and Sikhs were slaughtered. Even today we see the same arson, loot and harassment with daughters and sisters. When will we learn from the mistakes of the past?" He said that "more than 1.5 crore Hindus are crying to save their honour in Bangladesh". But "the so-called seculars in India are not uttering a word because they fear that if they raise their voice for the weak, their vote bank will slip away. They worry about their vote bank but they will not utter a word for humanity because they took forward the politics of divide and rule, since Partition," Adityanath added.