Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the chain of events in Bangladesh, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said that if India could give temporary shelter to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, it was equally the BJP-led NDA Government’s responsibility to intervene and protect the Hindus in the neighbouring country from the ongoing atrocities on them.
Talking to media persons in the national capital where he is currently on a three-day visit, Uddhav said: “We have not heard anything from Modi over the developments in Bangladesh. He was not present at the all-party meeting on Bangladesh held yesterday. If he could stop the war between Russia and Ukraine, he should display courage, intervene in the situation in Bangladesh and stop the ongoing atrocities on Hindus there”.
“Since India gave shelter to Hasina Shaikh after she fled Bangladesh, it is equally the responsibility of New Delhi to take necessary steps to protect the Hindus from being killed and attacked in Bangladesh,” the Sena (UBT) chief said.
Uddhav said that the recent events in Bangladesh, Israel and Sri Lanka had proved that “the common people are strong and powerful and the powers- that-be should not test their patience”
“If we see what is happening around the world, we are realising that the patience of people is fast running out. Thousands of people came out on the streets in Israel recently to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. We witnessed similar people’s unrest in Sri Lanka. We saw similar developments in Bangladesh,” he said.
“The common people are supreme. The rulers should not do any such thing that would erode their patience. Ultimately it is the people’s court that matters most. Just a few days ago, we witnessed what happened in Bangladesh. The people have delivered their verdict…people were called ‘aatankwadis’ and ‘razakars’. There is a limit to the patience of people,” Uddhav said.
“Such things can happen anywhere, anytime.. Hence, the powers-that-be must take serious note of what’s happening around the world and not consider themselves as above God,” the Sena (UBT) chief said.
“The situation in Bangladesh is akin to the problems in Kashmir and Manipur. The Hindus are being killed and subjected to atrocities by majority Muslims. If Modi and Shah cannot go to Manipur, they should show courage and at least go to Bangladesh now to ensure the well-being of our Hindus there, and stop the violence in that country,” Uddhav said.
“If late Indira Gandhi could extend military support to people during the 1971 liberation war against Pakistan, and paved the way for the creation of Bangladesh, what’s holding the Modi government from protecting the affected Hindus in Bangladesh?,” the Sena (UBT) chief asked.
Meanwhile, during his ongoing visit to the national capital, Uddhav will meet all leaders of the Opposition INDIA block, including Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi.