Mumbai, 30 November (IANS). Italian Ambassador to India Antonio Bartoli on Saturday reacted to the incidents happening in Bangladesh and said that Rome has always been in favor of respect for all minorities. The Italian diplomat’s comments come at a time when India is appealing to the interim Bangladesh government led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus to ensure the safety of Hindus and all minorities.
“Italy has always been in favor of full respect for all religions, especially minorities,” Bartoli told IANS. “We have always been working for the stability of the region, so, of course, we hope this will be resolved,” he said.
New Delhi says it is concerned by increasing extremist rhetoric and incidents of violence in Bangladesh.
“India has consistently and strongly raised the issue of threats and attacks on Hindus and other minorities with the Government of Bangladesh. Our position on this matter is very clear,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at the weekly media briefing. The interim government should fulfill its responsibility of protecting all minorities.”
The issue of security of minorities has once again come into focus with the arrest of Bangladesh Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari.
Das was detained by the Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on 25 November and sent to jail on charges of treason by a Chittagong court a day later. Tension arose in the area after his arrest.
In Chittagong itself, three Hindu temples were attacked in Harish Chandra Munsef Lane area at around 2.30 pm on Friday afternoon. Santaneshwar Matri Temple, Shoni Temple and Shantaneshwari Kalibari Temple were targeted by the slogan shouting mob.
On Friday, a group of hundreds of people stormed the temples, started throwing bricks and stones, damaging the gates of the Shoni temple and two other temples, bdnews24.com reported.
Temple officials confirmed the damage included broken gates and other damage.
Kotwali police station chief Abdul Karim also confirmed the attack. He said the attackers deliberately tried to damage the temples.
Tapan Das, a permanent member of the Santaneshwar Matri Mandir Management Committee, said the attackers were raising anti-Hindu and anti-ISKCON slogans.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Friday, “We are concerned about the aggressive rhetoric, increasing incidents of violence and incitement. These developments cannot be dismissed as mere media exaggerations. We once again call on Bangladesh to Call for all steps to be taken for the protection of minorities.”
–IANS
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