Members of Hindu Sakal Samaj stage protest at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk Vashi, against the arrest of Hindu priest Shyam Das Prabhu in Bangladesh, on Sunday | FPJ/ Farooq Sayed
Members of the Sakal Hindu Samaj, citizens and other groups, held a protest march on Sunday in Vashi, Navi Mumbai, against atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh after the change in government.
“A chaotic government led by Mohammad Yunus has been established in Bangladesh after a recent change of power. Since the establishment of this government, the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh has been victimised by extremist Muslim anarchists. The attacks, killings, looting, robberies, arson, atrocities against women, and inhuman atrocities against children and women of the Hindu and other minority communities by extremists are a matter of concern for the Hindu community in India, the Akhil Hindu Samaj said in a statement.
The group said it was unfortunate that the atrocities are taking place under the watch of the Bangladesh government machinery and police. “The security apparatus has remained silent spectators instead of saving the minorities there. At the same time, Hindus in Bangladesh tried to raise their voice against the injustice and atrocities committed against them. However, the government there has suppressed their voice. When Hindus there tried to protest, the Bangladeshi government crushed the Hindu protests. Sri Chinmoy Das of ISKCON was illegally arrested and his lawyer brutally assaulted. His supporters were denied entry into India even though they had Indian visas,” said Satish Nikam, a member of Sakal Hindu Samaj, a conglomerate of Hindu organisations.
Around 4000 people gathered for the protest march that began at 4 pm from Gavdevi Mari Mata Mandir, Juhugaon and ended at 6.30 pm at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk, Vashi. Various religious institutions, citizens groups, saints, and kirtankars participated in the march.
