NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES US ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi
The Lok Sabha on Tuesday expressed concern on the atrocities committed on Hindus in Bangladesh, with the Union Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani emphasising that the government would not spare any efforts to convey its anguish to Dhaka.
Replying to the calling attention motion on the situation arising out of the influx of Bangladesh refugees in the country moved by Priyaranjan Dasmunshi (Congress), the home minister said, "The government is not hiding anything. We want that the refugees (mainly Hindus) from Bangladesh should return and live peacefully."
Advani pointed out that the government would consider the suggestions from the Congress members about a goodwill delegation from India going to Dhaka to improve Indo-Bangladesh relations.
It will also follow up on National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra's visit to Bangladesh to convey India's concern over increasing attacks on Hindus.
"This is one matter on which the whole house is one," Advani said, adding that the incidents should not be given a communal twist.
He told the house that there had been media reports about Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's ruling Bangladesh nationalist Party and the Jamait-i-Islami unleashing atrocities on the Hindu minorities.
These included disrupting the Durga puja, storming temples and breaking idols, which has triggered a wave of apprehension in India.
He said the government was concerned at the atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh and had already conveyed its distress to its government on the matter.
He said India had friendly relations with the government of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and also wanted such relations with the Khaleda Zia government.
Advani also assured the house that the government would accordingly brief the BSF jawans deployed on the Indo-Bangladesh border so that they handled the refugees with compassion.
The home minister contended that the Bangladesh government had affirmed that it was committed to protecting the minorities and that the atrocities had been committed by criminal elements.
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
Call India
