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Journalism of Courage
The outfit named by the Bangladesh government for the “disgraceful” breach of security at its Assistant High Commission in Agartala on Monday, the Hindu Sangharsh Samiti (HSS), was formed just over a week ago, with the goal of “uniting the masses” against alleged atrocities on Hindus, following the arrest of a Hindu monk in Bangladesh.
HSS leader Shankar Roy describes the Samiti as an umbrella organisation of Hindutva groups and “like-minded social forums such as the RSS and VHP”. Similar outfits have been formed in every district of the country over the past week, he told The Indian Express.
Following the incident at the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission, in which alleged HSS members vandalised the property and took down the Bangladeshi flag, seven people were arrested and later released on bail.
BJP leaders as well as members of RSS-affiliated outfits VHP and Bajrang Dal have been part of similar protests being held against “atrocities” on Hindus in Bangladesh across Tripura and West Bengal.
Speaking to The Indian Express, the VHP and Bajrang Dal did not deny association with the HSS, but said they had no role in the attack on the Bangladesh mission.
Senior VHP leader Purna Chandra Mandal, who was present at the protest at the Bangladesh mission and delivered a speech there, said the HSS only wants to ensure that the Indian government pressures Bangladesh to stop hostilities against Hindus and demands the immediate release of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das.
Mandal said that the HSS only planned to submit a memorandum to Assistant High Commission officials on Monday. On the violence that followed, he said: “A large number of people assembled and it is natural that not everyone will know each other. I just delivered my speech and did not see what happened.”
While regretting the violence, Mandal said: “I feel it is a reflection of the public anguish against the happenings in Bangladesh.”
Amol Chakraborty, the ‘Kshetra Sanyojak’ of the Bajrang Dal, covering West Bengal, Odisha, Sikkim and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, said the time had come for Hindus to “unite and press Bangladesh to return to democracy”.
BJP Tripura vice-president Subal Bhowmik said what happened at the Bangladesh mission was “small”, though violence could have been avoided. “Youths who entered the Assistant High Commission’s premises did not hurt anyone. They just removed the flag and came back. The Tricolour is being repeatedly insulted in Bangladesh. Instead of protesting against that, the security breach is being projected as a big issue,” he said.
The VHP’s Mandal also talked about organisations “similar” to the HSS, such as the ‘Sanatani Aikya Mancha’ that, he said, is working on the same issues in Assam’s Barak Valley. “The names are different, but the organisations have come into existence with the same objective,” he said, adding that the HSS will continue its protests and, if necessary, urge India to sever all ties with Bangladesh, including the supply of food and relief materials to it.
“Whenever something happens (in Bangladesh), it is the Hindus who suffer, whether it was earlier (during the Sheikh Hasina regime) or now. This conspiracy and the atrocities have to stop. We helped them gain Independence. If they do not change, we want India to boycott Bangladesh,” Mandal said.
Other outfits called ‘Vedic Brahmin Samaj’, ‘Jago Hindu Jago’ and ‘Sanatani Yuva’ have also been holding protests in Agartala as well as near the border with Bangladesh. Among those present at the Sanatani Yuva protest on Wednesday was former Union minister of state Pratima Bhowmik. Addressing the protest, she slammed “the barbarism” happening in Bangladesh. “Properties of Sanatani minorities are being looted, they are being forcefully converted, their daughters gangraped… Everyone should raise their voice against this.”
CPI(M) Tripura state secretary and Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury said that while his party also condemns the “atrocities” against Hindus in Bangladesh, any protests should be “democratic”. “It is not just us alone but all democratic people oppose the blatant atrocities on minorities in Bangladesh. However, our protests must be democratic and in accordance with the laws of the land as well as international laws,” he told The Indian Express.
In his reaction to the violence, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha had posted on Facebook: “Some people were holding a peaceful demonstration against widespread atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh near the Gandhi statue. But few youths suddenly tried to enter the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission office. I condemn this incident. Peaceful movement/protest may continue but these sorts of activities are entirely undesired.”
In West Bengal too, TMC leaders say that the protests against Bangladesh involve seemingly apolitical “new” organisations like the HSS, which claim to represent Hindu rights, and are of the same nature as outfits that held widespread protests in the state in the wake of the R G Kar rape-murder.
Earlier this week, an organisation named as ‘Sanatani Oikyo Parishad’ led the protests at the Bangladesh border, with many BJP leaders and MLAs, including Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, attending. The Hindu Jagran Manch and a ‘Hindu Sanhati Manch’ have also held rallies in the state on the matter.
On Wednesday, the Bharat Sevashram Sangha, an order of monks, approached the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata with a memorandum. The head of its Beldanga wing, Kartik Maharaj, told The Indian Express: “What is happening in Bangladesh… we can’t express it in words. We have appealed to the Bangladesh High Commission to take immediate action, and also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Home Minister to take necessary action to safeguard the minority Hindus in Bangladesh. If action is not taken, we will step up the protests.”
On Wednesday, the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha called for a boycott of Bangladeshi Muslims visiting West Bengal. Its West Bengal chief Chandrachur Goswami said Indians should deny services and accommodation to Bangladeshi citizens until the country apologises for the alleged desecration of the Indian flag.
A senior RSS pracharak in West Bengal said: “Hindus generally are not united and so other communities would take advantage. But now the situation is different and every Hindu realises that we should come out on the roads against the atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh.”
A senior BJP leader said: “Yes, Hindu groups are protesting against the atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh. Some of them may be with the BJP or the RSS. That is not a crime.”
The ruling TMC has accused the BJP of trying to “communalise” the situation by “provoking” Hindus. TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said, “What is happening in Bangladesh is not acceptable. Our Chief Minister has already appealed to the Central government to take necessary action. Why is the BJP doing rallies here? They should approach the Central government… The BJP is only trying to provoke Hindus for votes.”
