West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday called on the Central government to ensure the safety of minorities in violence-stricken Bangladesh and facilitate the return of those wishing to come back to India. She also alleged that fake videos were being circulated to incite communal tensions.
“We want protection for minorities in Bangladesh. The Union government must act and bring back those who want to return to India,” Banerjee stated while addressing reporters. She further claimed that certain groups were spreading misleading videos to provoke unrest.
Attacks on minority Hindus, who make up about 8% of Bangladesh’s 170 million population, have been reported in over 50 districts since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government on August 5. Addressing the issue, Banerjee noted that the Indian government had increased visa issuance to facilitate the return of those affected. “Several fake videos are misleading people. The Indian government has sent a representative, and it is their responsibility to ensure safety. Visa issuance has been increased to help people return,” she said.
Banerjee, currently on a two-day visit to Digha to oversee the construction of the Jagannath temple, also highlighted that Muslim clerics in Bangladesh have condemned the attacks on Hindu minorities and called for their protection. She added, “We are informed that flights and trains are operating, and people with proper visas and passports are arriving. None of the India-Bangladesh borders have been closed.”
With inputs from PTI