Hindus in Kolkata took to the streets to protest the atrocities against religious minorities in Bangladesh and the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari on Monday. The protests took place on the occasion of the 53rd Vijay Diwas which commemorates the surrender of the Pakistan Army in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
Hundreds of protesters marched from Sealdah to Rani Rashmoni Road at Esplanade where a rally was held which was also attended by several Hindu monks and senior West Bengal BJP leaders, including former party president Dilip Ghosh and MPs Jyotirmay Singh Mahato and Abhijit Gangopadhyay amongst others.
Protesters from neighbouring districts, organised under the banner of Bangladesh Hindu Suraksha Samiti, emphasized the Indian Army's role in Bangladesh’s liberation. They strongly denounced anti-India statements made by former Bangladesh Army officials and political leaders, declaring today as “Condemnation Day.”
“Why are Hindus getting attacked? Why are they targeting our temples? Bangladesh was not anarchic like this. They are claiming that they would occupy Kolkata in four days,” a protester said during the march. Another added, “They can only make big claims. Let them try to attack us and then we will show them what is what.”
The protest march and rally mirrored similar events frequently organised by saffron groups with BJP support following Chinmoy Krishna Das's arrest. Participants also made provocative and unfounded demands.
Kartik Maharaj, who heads Bharat Sevashram Sangha’s Beldanga branch, was among the speakers at the rally. In his usual aggressive demeanour, he urged Hindus to be united for the protection of their counterparts in Bangladesh. He also took a dig West Bengal Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim over his recent remarks about Muslims becoming majority in India.
