Indifference Not An Option As India-Bangladesh's Friendship Symbols Are Targeted: Shashi Tharoor

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has condemned the attacks on Hindus, stating that indifference is not an option when symbols of India's friendship with Bangladesh are under assault.

Speaking to ANI, he said that the movement which was a democratic revolution turned into anarchy as the minority Hindus came under attack.

"It's extremely tragic that what was hailed as a democratic, popular revolution has degenerated into anarchy, and violence targeting the minorities and the Hindu minority... We in India must stand with the people of Bangladesh. But it's difficult for us to be indifferent when every symbol of India's friendship with Bangladesh is being attacked," the news agency quoted Tharoor as saying.

Tharoor called the attack on several institutions during the ongoing violence as "very negative" sign for people in India.

He added, "The statue of the surrender of the Pakistani forces to Indian soldiers has been smashed to bits. The Indian Cultural Centre is destroyed, and a number of institutions are vandalised, including the ISKCON temple. All of these things are very negative signs for people in India. It is not in Bangladesh's interest either to come across in this way."

"They should be saying that this is about the restoration of their democracy, but in the process, you turn against the minorities and in particular one minority, inevitably, that will be noticed and resented in our country and elsewhere..." he added.

Bangladesh is facing a volatile political situation after Sheikh Hasina resigned as Prime Minister on August 5 amid growing protests. Initially sparked by student demands to end the government job quota system, the protests have escalated into widespread anti-government demonstrations.

On Tuesday, a clash erupted between Bangladesh Army personnel and members of the Hindu minority community who were protesting with posters of their missing family members, victims of the ongoing violence. The protest took place outside the Jamuna State Guest House in Dhaka, where Bangladesh's interim government chief, Muhammad Yunus, is residing.

In the early hours of Tuesday, Nobel laureate and interim government chief advisor Muhammad Yunus visited the historic Dhakeshwari Temple in Dhaka, where he assured Bangladesh's minorities of their safety and security in the country.

"Rights are equal for everyone. We are all one people with one right. Do not make any distinctions among us. Please, assist us. Exercise patience, and later judge -- what we were able to do and not. If we fail, then criticise us," Prof Yunus was quoted as saying by Bangladesh newspaper Daily Star.

"In our democratic aspirations, we should not be seen as Muslims, Hindus, or Buddhists, but as human beings. Our rights should be ensured. The root of all problems lies in the decay of institutional arrangements. That is why such issues arise. Institutional arrangements need to be fixed," he added.

After Yunus' visit, a crucial meeting took place at the temple between representatives of the Muslim community and the Hindu minority. The gathering provided a platform for open dialogue, where both communities addressed key issues and sought to strengthen communal harmony.