BJP Questions Govt's Silence on Attack on Hindus in B'desh

The BJP today questioned the "silence" of the Centre as well as the Assam government over attacks on Hindus during recent elections in Bangladesh and said giving Indian citizenship to Hindu migrants should be considered favourably.

"In the recent polls, Hindus were attacked in Bangladesh. Why Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Tarun Gogoi are silent? Why no step is taken to protect the lives of Hindus there?" BJP's deputy leader in Rajya Sabha Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters here.

Suspected opposition activists attacked Hindus at several places in Bangladesh during and after the polls, accusing the minority community of backing the Awami League which swept the elections following a boycott by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

In the wake of widespread attacks on Hindus in the country, Bangladesh had yesterday decided to set up special tribunals under an anti-terror law to punish the perpetrators of violence aimed at the minority community.

Talking about illegal migration from the neighbouring country to Assam, Prasad said "Lots of Hindus have come to Assam. They come due to various reasons, including religious compulsions. There should be a favourable consideration regarding giving Indian citizenship to them."

He, however, alleged the Congress-led governments at the Centre and Assam of supporting the illegal Muslim immigrants from Bangladesh for "vote bank politics".

"In the recent step of the Assam government in asking the migrants to register, BJP senses a sinister move. It is an attempt to influence the voter list. We condemn the step," he added.

Prasad said the UPA government had promised in 2005 to update the National Register of Citizens within a year, but did not complete the process.

On the controversial land swapping agreement with Bangladesh, Prasad said it would require a constitutional amendment and BJP wouldn't allow the Bill to pass in the Parliament.

When asked what would be the BJP's policy regarding deportation of illegal immigrants if it came to power at the Centre, he said "The most important thing is proper detection by a tribunal."

He also alleged that functioning of the erstwhile Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal) Act was very slow and no infrastructure support was given to it.

Courtesy:news dot outlookindia dot com

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BJP concerned over violence against Hindus in Bangladesh

The BJP on Wednesday expressed concern over the reports of violence against Hindus in the neighbouring Bangladesh.

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley in a statement issued in New Delhi said, “The post-election violence has started attacking the minority Hindu community. Houses have been burnt and individuals are being attacked. The already insecure Hindu minority is being threatened further. Media reports suggest that most of these attacks have taken place at the behest of the Jamat-e-Islami and even the BNP.”

Referring to the shrinking Hindu population in the adjoining nation and the similarity in the situation being faced by the community in Pakistan, Mr. Jaitley said: “It is noteworthy that the Hindu population, which was around 30 per cent at the time of Independence is currently between 10 to 12 per cent as per the recent estimates.”

He said a disturbed neighbourhood adversely affects India and in some cases the consequences spill into Indian boundaries. “One had hoped that elections in Bangladesh would enhance the democratic process there. As the nation which had supported Bangladesh at the time of their liberation struggle, India, which has thousands of kilometres of borders with Bangladesh, would like to see a peaceful poll accompanied by continuation or transfer of power. It has not happened. We hope that the political process in Bangladesh stabilises and important political parties are in a position to settle their domestic political issues,” Mr. Jaitley said.

The position of the Hindu minorities in Pakistan “is a little worse” he said, adding in recent times thousands have had to migrate to India. “On my visits to places like Indore, Ajmer and other towns of Punjab, many of these groups have met me. Even in Delhi the Hindu migrants from Pakistan have been meeting political leaders and explaining to them the plight of the minorities in Pakistan,” he said urging the Centre to take note.

Courtesy:thehindu dot com

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