Uddhav Thackeray, the chief of Shiv Sena (UBT) and former Maharashtra Chief Minister, has challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to protect minority Hindus in Bangladesh. These Hindus have been targeted in the violence following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ouster after student protests. Thackeray, who is in Delhi to meet leaders from the INDIA bloc to discuss upcoming Assembly elections in Maharashtra, Haryana, and Jharkhand, said if Modi could stop the war in Ukraine, he should take similar steps in Bangladesh to save the Hindus there.
Thackeray took a dig at BJP's Lok Sabha elections campaign advertisement, saying, "If he can stop the war between Ukraine and Russia, then tell Papa to stop this war, too. Papa, atrocities are being done against Hindus in Bangladesh, please do justice to them." He emphasized that it is the duty of the Modi government to protect Hindus in Bangladesh who are facing violence from protestors.
Reacting to the political chaos in Bangladesh, Thackeray raised concerns about a similar situation developing in India, stating, "Do you think that a similar situation should develop in India? If you wish that a similar situation does not develop here, then timely decisions should be taken. You have to talk to all the people involved."
When asked about the developments in Bangladesh, Thackeray stressed that the people are supreme and no politician should test their patience. He pointed out that the protestors in Bangladesh were called "razakars," a term considered an insult in that country, and compared it to the Indian farmers who were called terrorists during their protests in the national capital. He warned that the situation in Bangladesh is a lesson for everyone, emphasizing that no one is above God and we are all humans.
Sheikh Hasina resigned as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh on Tuesday and fled Dhaka on a military aircraft. She landed at Hindon airport in Ghaziabad and is currently in a safe house in India, exploring options to move to Europe.