On the same Friday that India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s visit to Bangladesh was announced, several organizations, including the Hindutva-based Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), declared plans to surround the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi on December 10, protesting alleged Hindu persecution in Bangladesh.
Misri is set to visit Dhaka on Monday to attend a Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) meeting regarding bilateral relations.
The next day, on December 10, an organization Civil Society of Delhi will lead the protest, although the initiative is primarily driven by the RSS.
Rajnish Jindal, co-chief of RSS's media management in Delhi, announced the protest at a press conference on Friday.
Jindal accused the Bangladesh government of persecuting Hindus and other minorities, a situation he claims has outraged people across India.
Over 200 social, cultural, and religious organizations will participate in the protest and submit a memorandum to the Bangladesh High Commission. The petition will also be forwarded to international bodies such as the UN, the UN Human Rights Commission, the World Health Organization, Amnesty International, and the Asian Development Bank, urging them to intervene and stop the persecution, he said.
Prothom Alo reports Misri’s visit is intended to normalize relations and address minority safety concerns. India will seek to avoid any developments that could escalate tensions or create instability.
The Bangladesh government has repeatedly asserted that while some incidents have occurred since the change in government, the way these events are being portrayed is misleading and part of a deliberate disinformation campaign.
