Two influential Indian-American Congressmen, Ro Khanna and Raja Krishnamoorthi, have demanded an immediate cessation of the ongoing brutal violence against the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh following the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
They have also called upon the incoming interim government’s prime minister-designate, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, to uphold the rule of law as he assumes power.
The Congressmen’s statements come a day after numerous Hindu American organizations met with State Department officials to address the escalating violence against the Hindu minority community and the destruction of Hindu temples in Bangladesh. They criticized the failure of Congress and the administration to acknowledge and condemn the violence against Hindus and other religious minorities as unacceptable.
“Bangladeshi students had just human rights concerns against PM Hasina. It’s good she is gone. But the violence now targeting Hindus is wrong. PM Yunus must uphold the rule of law & prevent the targeting of temples or people of any political party or faith from violence,” Ro Khanna, Congressman said in a post on X on Thursday.
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said, “As Bangladesh prepares to swear in its interim government, I urge all government officials, the new administration and police chief, and the people of Bangladesh to do all they can to end the violence that has emerged across the country, including the brutal targeting of the country’s Hindu minority, their homes, businesses, and their temples.”
“The violence must stop and those responsible must be brought to justice to help the people of Bangladesh move forward as a nation. I will continue to closely monitor developments in Bangladesh in coordination with the US State Department,” Krishnamoorthi said.
On Wednesday, representatives from various Hindu American organizations met with the US Ambassador for International Religious Freedom (IRF) Rashad Hussein at the US State Department in Washington, DC. They briefed Hussein on the violence directed at Hindus and other religious minorities throughout Bangladesh, sharing documented incidents against Hindus and Hindu temples over 48 hours after Hasina left the country amidst civil unrest.
The Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) urged the US President, State Department, IRF Ambassador, and presidential candidates to take immediate action to ensure peace is re-established in Bangladesh and that minorities are protected, preventing another potential Hindu Genocide. FIIDS also urged the United Nations to deploy observers and peacekeeping forces to contain the situation on the ground in Bangladesh and ensure the protection of vulnerable communities.
Since Hasina fled the country on Monday, media reports from Bangladesh have flagged more and more cases of violence against minorities, including the massive vandalism and destruction at popular folk band Joler Gaan’s frontman Rahul Ananda’s residence on Monday, prompting the singer and his family to go into hiding.
They have also called upon the incoming interim government’s prime minister-designate, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, to uphold the rule of law as he assumes power.
The Congressmen’s statements come a day after numerous Hindu American organizations met with State Department officials to address the escalating violence against the Hindu minority community and the destruction of Hindu temples in Bangladesh. They criticized the failure of Congress and the administration to acknowledge and condemn the violence against Hindus and other religious minorities as unacceptable.
“Bangladeshi students had just human rights concerns against PM Hasina. It’s good she is gone. But the violence now targeting Hindus is wrong. PM Yunus must uphold the rule of law & prevent the targeting of temples or people of any political party or faith from violence,” Ro Khanna, Congressman said in a post on X on Thursday.
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said, “As Bangladesh prepares to swear in its interim government, I urge all government officials, the new administration and police chief, and the people of Bangladesh to do all they can to end the violence that has emerged across the country, including the brutal targeting of the country’s Hindu minority, their homes, businesses, and their temples.”
“The violence must stop and those responsible must be brought to justice to help the people of Bangladesh move forward as a nation. I will continue to closely monitor developments in Bangladesh in coordination with the US State Department,” Krishnamoorthi said.
On Wednesday, representatives from various Hindu American organizations met with the US Ambassador for International Religious Freedom (IRF) Rashad Hussein at the US State Department in Washington, DC. They briefed Hussein on the violence directed at Hindus and other religious minorities throughout Bangladesh, sharing documented incidents against Hindus and Hindu temples over 48 hours after Hasina left the country amidst civil unrest.
The Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) urged the US President, State Department, IRF Ambassador, and presidential candidates to take immediate action to ensure peace is re-established in Bangladesh and that minorities are protected, preventing another potential Hindu Genocide. FIIDS also urged the United Nations to deploy observers and peacekeeping forces to contain the situation on the ground in Bangladesh and ensure the protection of vulnerable communities.
Since Hasina fled the country on Monday, media reports from Bangladesh have flagged more and more cases of violence against minorities, including the massive vandalism and destruction at popular folk band Joler Gaan’s frontman Rahul Ananda’s residence on Monday, prompting the singer and his family to go into hiding.
Source : Times of India
