West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari and several BJP MLAs joined hundreds of saints and monks near the India-Bangladesh border at Petrapole in North 24 Parganas to demand the immediate release of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari in Bangladesh.
The protesters also warned the interim government of Bangladesh led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus of dire consequences if atrocities against Hindus are not stopped. They threatened to impose an economic ban on Bangladesh by stopping all kinds of trade happening through the Petrapole landport.
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Speaking at the protest rally, organised by the Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti, LoP Adhikari said, “We had announced that trade through the Petrapole border will remain closed today. The closure began at 6 am and will continue for 24 hours. This is just a trailer of what’s coming next.”
He further threatened that if the situation in Bangladesh does not improve, Hindus in West Bengal will suspend exports of essential commodities for five days next week, followed by an "indefinite strike" on exports to Bangladesh starting in 2025.
The Nandigram MLA also touched upon the issue of a section of Bangladeshis dishonouring the Indian national flag, saying, “We will force the new Razakars to surrender as we did in 1971.” He also went on to talk about the Indian Army’s role in liberating Bangladesh from Pakistan.
Carrying the national flag and chanting "Jai Shri Ram," LoP Adhikari marched toward Zero Point, where he protested by releasing balloons. Following this, he headed towards the immigration centre where a crowd had been protesting since morning.
Meanwhile, the monks who had participated in the protest rally stressed the need for Hindu unity. They demanded that the “genocide” of Hindus must be stopped in Bangladesh and Chinmoy Krishna Das be released in the next court hearing.
The leader of the opposition acknowledged the same and claimed that Monday’s event symbolised the unity of Hindus of all sections and backgrounds. “Thousands of people have gathered here. They are not from the BJP. They are Hindus who have come together.”