Cannot issue orders for the protection of Hindus in Bangladesh : Supreme Court

Petition seeking protection for Hindus in Bangladesh rejected

New Delhi – The Supreme Court rejected a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking protection for Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh, stating that the demand is related to India’s foreign policy, and the Indian judiciary cannot interfere in the internal matters of another country.

The PIL was filed by Rajesh Dhanda, a businessman from Ludhiana, Punjab. The petition mentioned that the condition of minorities (Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and others) in Bangladesh is extremely dire. After the collapse of the democratic Government in Bangladesh, religious extremists have been attacking minorities there. Incidents of mass killings, kidnappings, property seizures, and other criminal activities against minorities are on the rise.

The petition also highlighted that the recent attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh necessitate an extension of the cut off date under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019, for refugees to 31stDecember 2014, enabling new victims to acquire Indian citizenship.

The petitioner had requested directions to the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure that the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh could assist Hindus facing religious and state-sponsored persecution.

Editorial Perspective

In reality, Hindus in India should not need to approach the Court for such matters. The Union Government itself should pressurise Bangladesh to protect Hindus, reflecting the sentiment of Hindus worldwide!