Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday emphasized the importance of unity in light of the ongoing unrest in Bangladesh.
“Nothing is above the nation, and it will only be strengthened when we stand united. ‘If we divide, we will suffer’. You can see what is happening in Bangladesh. We should not make the same mistakes here… ‘If we divide, we will suffer; if we stay united, we will thrive’,” Adityanath said during a public meeting in Agra.
His remarks follow a statement the previous day in which Adityanath criticized the opposition for its ‘silence’ on the attacks against Hindus in Bangladesh. “While the opposition is quick to comment on international issues, it remains silent about the persecution of Hindus and the destruction of temples in Bangladesh. They speak up about Palestine but ignore Bangladesh because they fear losing their vote bank,” he said in Mathura.
The Chief Minister’s comments come amid reports of unrest in Bangladesh, which has been experiencing a political crisis since August 5, after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country.
There have been numerous reports of widespread attacks on Hindus, who make up about 8% of Bangladesh’s population. Hindu temples have been desecrated, and properties belonging to community members have been attacked by mobs.
Historically, Hindus in Bangladesh have supported Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League, which led the country’s liberation movement in 1971. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, a minority rights group, reported to AFP on August 16 that there have been 200 attacks on Hindus since the Awami League leader’s departure.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed concern, stating in a social media post while congratulating Bangladesh’s interim government’s Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, “We hope for an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities.”