New Delhi : The citizenship Amendment Act must be opposed to protect Bangladeshi Hindus fleeing religious persecution, former minister Milind Deora said on Tuesday. His statement follows reports of communal violence that took place during the Durga Puja celebrations in Bangladesh last week.
Calling the incident “worrying,” the senior Congress leader, however, warned against attempts to “equate Indian Muslims with Bangladeshi Islamists.”
In a tweet, Milind Deora said, “Bangladesh’s escalating communal violence is extremely worrying. CAA must be amended to protect & rehabilitate Bangladeshi Hindus fleeing religious persecution. India must also reject & thwart any communal attempt to equate Indian Muslims with Bangladeshi Islamists.”
The BJP has meanwhile said the religious freedom of Hindus in Bangladesh is being trampled upon and made a case for the importance of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
Bangladesh’s escalating communal violence is extremely worrying.
CAA must be amended to protect & rehabilitate Bangladeshi Hindus fleeing religious persecution.
India must also reject & thwart any communal attempt to equate Indian Muslims with Bangladeshi Islamists.
— Milind Deora | मिलिंद देवरा ☮️ (@milinddeora) October 18, 2021
CAA aims to make Indian Citizenship path easier for for Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian migrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.
CAA was a political gimmick to win elections in India, not to safeguard religious minority rights in the subcontinent.
Why haven’t CAA rules been framed for 2 years? Has a single Afghan Sikh or Bangladeshi Hindu fleeing persecution been given citizenship so far?
Talk is cheap.
— Milind Deora | मिलिंद देवरा ☮️ (@milinddeora) October 19, 2021
“The impunity with which religious freedom of Hindus in Bangladesh is being trampled, reiterates the importance of the CAA, a humanitarian legislation. Mamata Banerjee’s opposition to the CAA and studied silence now should worry Hindus of West Bengal who too are facing marginalisation under the TMC,” BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya had said.
Reports had emerged of an alleged irreligious incident at the Durga Puja Pandal at Bangladesh.
In the wake of this, violence eruped in parts of the country, and temples in Chandpur’s Hajiganj, Chattogram’s Banshkhali, Cox’s Bazar’s Pekua were vandalised. An ISKON temple in Noakhali too was attacked.
The attacks prompted Delhi to call up Dhaka. Sources said that Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami as well as the four consulates in Bangladesh have been in touch with officials.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in a speech, promised to bring to justice the culprits behind the violence. She warned that anyone involved in the attacks on Hindu temples and Durga Puja venues will not be spared.
Hindus form around 10% of Bangladesh’s population of 169 million.
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