By Shahadat Swadhin
India’s democratic traditions and secular constitution stand in growing contradiction to its treatment of minorities. While the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticises the treatment of Hindus in Bangladesh, it oversees systemic marginalisation and discrimination against Indian Muslims. This duplicity not only undermines India’s claim to moral high ground but also risks destabilising regional relations in South Asia.
In late 2024, the Hindu monk Chinmoy Das was arrested in Bangladesh on charges of alleged ‘anti-state activities’ and subsequently denied bail. When his followers attacked the High Court and killed a Muslim government lawyer, Bangladesh’s stakeholders acted decisively to prevent the situation from escalating into communal violence. Mahfuj Alam, an influential cabinet member and a key coordinator of Bangladesh’s uprising against the government of former prime minister Sheikh Hasinah, posted on social media calling for ensuring security for innocent minorities. Indian media and pro-BJP and Hindutva organisations ignored the killing, instead portraying Das’s arrest as evidence of Hindu oppression in Bangladesh.
Hindu groups staged protests outside Bangladeshi embassies in Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai. In Agartala, protesters attacked the Bangladeshi consulate. Indian politicians escalated the matter by calling for a blockade of India–Bangladesh trade.
It is undeniable that attacks on Hindus have occurred in Bangladesh, but India tends to politicise these incidents. According to Ain o Salish Kendra, a prominent rights group in Bangladesh, 3679 attacks on the Hindu community took place between January 2013 and September 2021, while Sheikh Hasina was in power.
But the interim government in Bangladesh, led by Mohammad Yunus, acknowledged attacks on minorities in August, reporting 88 cases filed and 70 arrests. Despite this, Indian media outlets focus on issues that serve their clickbait-driven journalism. The contrast with India’s domestic response to anti-Muslim violence is significant. In November 2024, while Indians protested nationwide for Das, three Muslim men in Uttar Pradesh were killed for opposing a archaeological survey of the Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid, which was accused of being built over a Hindu temple. The Indian media largely ignored these deaths.
In India, Muslims live under constant threat of violence. They are often accused of carrying beef — anathema to some devout Hindus — or face baseless allegations of being Bangladeshi or Rohingya migrants. This hostility extends beyond online hate speech and manifests in real-life incidents.
Shortly after Hasina fled to Ghaziabad from Bangladesh, members of the Hindu Raksha Dal vandalised a local slum, assaulting residents and labelling them as Bangladeshis and Rohingya solely based on their Muslim identity.
In August 2024, Saabir Malik, a Muslim boy from West Bengal was beaten to death in Haryana on false accusations of carrying beef.
Between 2010–17, 28 Indians — 24 of them Muslims — were killed, and 124 others injured in cow-related violence. The so-called ‘cow vigilante’ violence targeting Muslims tends to increase during election periods. In 2019, eight Muslims were killed under accusations of carrying beef or stealing cows. In 2024, during the general election campaign, nine Muslims were murdered in similar circumstances. These incidents are aimed at capturing the support of radical Hindu voters.
The oppression of Muslim minorities in India has intensified under BJP rule, particularly since 2014. The irony is stark — while the BJP accuses Bangladesh of persecuting its minorities, it fails to address the plight of its own.
Bangladeshi issues have frequently become a focal point in Indian election campaigns in Assam, West Bengal and Jharkhand. BJP leaders have made inflammatory comments about Bangladeshis, labelling them as infiltrators. Issues related to Bangladesh and its people are amplified to serve Indian electoral interests while domestic incidents of communal violence often receive muted responses.
This approach fuels bigotry and deepens societal divides, weaponising fear for political gains. India’s selective approach to minority rights raises serious questions about its regional and moral leadership. While the BJP claims to champion the rights of Bangladesh’s minorities, it ignores the plight of Indian Muslims and other marginalised communities. This hypocrisy erodes India’s credibility both regionally and globally, tarnishing its image as a democratic leader.
The politicisation of Bangladesh’s minority issues for domestic electoral gains is a dangerous precedent, undermining the aspirations of millions who seek peace and dignity on both sides of the border.
By scapegoating Bangladesh, India also risks alienating a trusted ally and destabilising regional relations that are crucial for South Asia’s collective development.
India must uphold higher standards by prioritising minority rights and regional cooperation over divisive politics. The path forward lies in mutual respect, dialogue and a shared commitment to regional stability and prosperity.
To address religious tensions, India and Bangladesh could establish a joint regional commission dedicated to addressing communal violence and minority rights. Non-state actors could provide independent assessments of communal incidents to prevent political exploitation. Media organisations have a critical role, countering misinformation and ensuring that minority issues are not manipulated for electoral gains.
Initiatives such as youth exchanges, interfaith festivals and cross-border media collaboration could counter divisive narratives and promote greater understanding between communities.
About the author: Shahadat Swadhin is Research Scholar in the Department of International Relations at South Asian University, New Delhi.
Source: This article was published at East Asia Forum