Srinagar, Dec 08: Minority groups from Kashmir valley which included Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, and others staged a strong protest in Srinagar on Sunday, calling for an end to the violence against minorities in Bangladesh.
The protesters gathered outside Raj Bhawan, raising slogans and holding banners that read, “Save Bangladesh Minorities, and “Stop gruesome Killings, save hindus in Bangladesh, we strongly condemn the killing of minorities in Bangladesh, etc.”
One of the protestors, Anita Chandpuri, speaking to Rising Kashmir, expressed her concern over the silence of international bodies like the United Nations (UN) in response to the ongoing attacks. She said, “Whenever an incident occurs anywhere in the world, the UN raises its voice, but when it comes to the minorities being attacked in Bangladesh, the UN has remained silent.”
Chandpuri and other protestors also criticized the lack of attention given to the issue, despite the gravity of the situation.
In addition to the protest, Ankita revealed that they have launched a campaign to draw attention to the violence against minorities in Bangladesh. She stated that a memorandum had been submitted to the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, urging the government to raise the issue at the UN and demand action to protect the minorities in Bangladesh who are being targeted, killed, and raped.
She also condemned the attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, highlighting the ongoing issue of displaced Kashmiri Pandits. She pointed out that it has been 34 years since the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits took place but they are yet to return to Kashmir.
She highlighted that the return of the Pandits is not possible unless the government makes concerted efforts to facilitate their return. She also stated that the government should engage in discussions with the Kashmiri Pandits who lived on the ground during the exodus, rather than only with a select few.
