‘Attacks, murders, looting…’: RSS slams atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh, seeks release of priest Chinmoy Das

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh issued a statement on Saturday calling for an immediate end to atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh. Protests and counter-protests have raged throughout the country this week following the arrest and imprisonment of a Hindu priest. The RSS statement also lambasted the  current Bangladesh government and its agencies for remaining silent and failing to take action against these attacks.

“The attacks, murders, looting, arson, as well as inhuman atrocities by Islamic fundamentalists on Hindus, women and all other minorities in Bangladesh, are extremely worrying and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh condemns this. The present Bangladesh government and other agencies are merely silent spectators instead of stopping this,” read the statement from RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale.

The missive also urged the Bangladesh government to “immediately stop” atrocities against Hindus and release Chinmoy Krishna Das from jail. RSS also called for the Indian government to continue its efforts to stop the atrocities against minorities and take steps to “create global opinion in its support”.

Meanwhile the Ministry of External Affairs voiced concern over the rise of “extremist rhetoric” and increasing violence during a briefing on Friday. The MEA said that India had consistently and strongly raised the issue of targeted attacks on Hindus and other minorities with Bangladesh government.

(With inputs from agencies)