A petition has been filed before the Supreme Court of India, urging the Union Government to take immediate and decisive action to curb the ongoing violence and persecution of Hindus and other minority communities in Bangladesh.
The petition further seeks an extension of the cut-off date under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, to enable Hindus who have fled Bangladesh due to recent hostilities to apply for Indian citizenship.
The petitioner, Rajesh Dhanda—a Ludhiana-based businessman, philanthropist, Chairman of the Bhagwan Jagannath Rath Yatra Mahotsav Committee, and Vice Chairman of the ISKCON Steering Board—has moved the plea, which is scheduled for consideration before the Chief Justice of India’s Bench on February 24.
The plea requests the Union Government to implement immediate diplomatic interventions and adopt legal measures under international law to prevent further persecution of Hindus and other minority communities in Bangladesh.
Additionally, it calls upon the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to direct the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh to extend aid and assistance to affected individuals facing religious and state-sanctioned persecution.
The petition highlights historical precedents where sovereign nations have leveraged international forums, such as the International Court of Justice and the United Nations, to address human rights violations in foreign jurisdictions. It asserts that the MEA and MHA have thus far failed to undertake meaningful international efforts to safeguard the rights of minority communities in Bangladesh.
Furthermore, the plea argues that religious minorities—including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and others—are experiencing a systematic campaign of violence, placing them on the brink of mass displacement. It calls for immediate diplomatic pressure and the application of international legal mechanisms to compel the Bangladeshi government to halt these atrocities.
The petition also underscores the escalation of violence following the ousting of Bangladesh’s democratically elected government, which has led to widespread killings, abductions, illegal property seizures, and other criminal acts targeting minority communities.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, currently sets December 31, 2014, as the deadline for eligibility. However, the petition contends that in light of the recent targeted violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, this deadline must be extended to accommodate those seeking refuge in India.
It urges the Indian government to act promptly to provide relief and protection to persecuted minorities in both Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Read More: Supreme Court, Delhi High Court, States High Court, International
