Hindu communities protest in London and India against mob lynching in Bangladesh

London: A protest against the recent killing of Hindus in Bangladesh was held outside the Bangladesh High Commission in London on Saturday, with demonstrators from Indian and Bangladeshi Hindu communities calling for an end to violence against religious minorities.

During the demonstration, five alleged members of a Khalistan-linked group appeared in support of Bangladesh. They were seen chanting slogans and waving their flag, drawing attention amid the otherwise peaceful protest.

Hindu protesters played “Amar Shonar Bangla”, the national anthem of Bangladesh, and raised slogans demanding protection for minorities and accountability for attacks on Hindus in the country.

Protests and demonstrations across India

The mob lynching of two Bangladeshi Hindu nationals, Dipu Chandra Das and Amrit Mandal, has sparked a political controversy in India. Demonstrations were held in several states over the past week, including in West Bengal and Assam, with protesters demanding action from the Bangladesh government.

On Friday, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers organised a torchlight rally to highlight the issue in Siliguri.

BJP leader Anita Mahato, who took part in the rally, said violence against Hindus would persist unless the community stood united. “We (BJP workers) held a torchlight rally against the way Sanatani Hindus are being tortured in Bangladesh in Siliguri. We want to send a message that unless we Hindus unite, such situations will continue,” she said.

"The Hindus in Bangladesh have been burnt alive without clothes... We have to fight the same way for religion, like the way we fight for food, shelter, and livelihood," she added.

In Kolkata, multiple organisations staged protests on Friday against the alleged targeting of minorities in Bangladesh. Many demonstrators, wearing saffron-coloured attire, called for an immediate halt to violence against Hindus and other minority communities.

Meanwhile, India has formally raised concerns over repeated incidents of violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh, including Hindus, Christians and Buddhists. The government said it was closely monitoring developments in the neighbouring country.

Speaking in New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India was disturbed by the continued hostility faced by minority communities in Bangladesh. “We condemn the recent killing of a Hindu youth in Mymensingh and expect that the perpetrators of the crime will be brought to justice,” he said.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers also held a protest in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, on Saturday.

Addressing the gathering, BJP leader Akash Vijayvargiya said, "We Hindus are in the majority in India, yet we live here peacefully, but look at what the majority in Bangladesh is doing... Muhammad Yunus was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, but he does not deserve it. We will write a letter to the Swedish government to withdraw this award…," he said.

Expressing discontent with the Opposition over their alleged complacency on the issue, he added, "We are equally angered by the Congress party. When attacks took place in Palestine, they created an uproar both in Parliament and on the streets, yet not a single Congress leader issued a statement condemning what is happening in Bangladesh.”

Vijayvargiya also expressed confidence in the Centre’s response, saying the central government was actively addressing the issue through diplomatic channels.

ANI