Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chairman Mohan Bhagwat and RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale. (PTI data map)
This departure from the norm underscores the importance of the issue as senior officials in the Sangh Parivar grapple with the security and rights of Hindus in neighboring countries.
The plight of Bangladeshi Hindus is expected to be on the agenda of the upcoming coordination meeting of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Kerala on Friday, marking a rare inclusion of foreign issues in the group's deliberations. This departure from the norm underscores the importance of the issue as senior officials in the Sangh Parivar grapple with the security and rights of Hindus in neighboring countries.
The RSS, known for focusing primarily on national issues, appears to have made an exception this time, acknowledging the wider impact of cross-border religious persecution on the Hindu community. Sources in the RSS ranks said around 50 key members of the Karyakarani Mandal (Central Committee) will gather in Palakkad, Kerala, for discussions and deliberations that may explore strategies to support Hindus in Bengal.
Bengali Hindus under siege
A senior RSS official said Prime Minister Modi has spoken to the interim government and he is taking other necessary steps, but the world needs to see how Hindus are under siege in neighboring countries. “The agenda of the meeting highlights the growing urgency to address this issue within the Sangh, reflecting our commitment to safeguarding Hindu interests beyond India's borders. As the leadership prepares for deliberations, the inclusion of this issue could signal a sign of the RSS' approach to diplomacy as the leadership prepares for deliberations The approach to affairs has entered a new phase, driven by its deep-rooted concern for Hindus across the world,” said a senior RSS official.
“Hindus have been attacked day after day in Bangladesh since the overthrow of Sheikh Hasina's government. Many of them try to cross the border and some wait near the border, but as per international border rules they will not are allowed to cross the border. That is the case. We have to look at these critical issues as well and we have to mobilize global support for the Hindus in Bangladesh,” the official added.
Sangh-affiliated organizations have come together to organize a memorial service for the Hindus who were brutally murdered in Bangladesh's latest riots on Friday. The rally aimed to commemorate the victims and draw attention to the ongoing persecution of minorities in neighboring countries. The program was organized to highlight the growing concerns among these groups for the safety and dignity of Bengali Hindus, especially in the face of escalating communal violence. Earlier, the RSS-inspired group led a Nari Shakti march to protest against allegations of sexual assault against women in Bangladesh, underscoring its increased focus on gender-based violence in the region.
