CHENNAI: In Tamil Nadu, thousands of protesters from various Hindu organisations took to the streets to condemn the recent attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh and the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu, a prominent ISKCON member, in the country. The protests, led by outfits like the BJP, Hindu Munnani, VHP, RSS, and ABVP, were organised at district headquarters across the state, reflecting the growing concern over the safety of Hindus in Bangladesh.
The protests were spearheaded by the Retrieve Bangladesh Hindu Rights Organisation and aimed to highlight the widespread persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh, including violence, vandalism of temples, and attacks on religious figures. According to Karthikeyan, the VHP’s media in-charge, “A peaceful protest was organized today by Retrieve Bangladesh Hindu Rights Organisation against atrocities and murder of Hindus in Bangladesh across all district headquarters in Tamil Nadu. A few thousand of them have been arrested and placed in various halls across the state.”
ஆர்ப்பாட்டத்தில் ஈடுபட்டவர்கள் கைது – அண்ணாமலை கண்டனம் #Annamalai | #Protest pic.twitter.com/oG8Laq6ZBP
— PttvOnlinenews (@PttvNewsX) December 4, 2024
In Chennai, over 1000 people gathered at Egmore, outside Rajarathinam Stadium, to protest the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh. The protest saw a significant presence of members from BJP, RSS, Hindu Munnani, VHP, ABVP, and other Hindu organisations. Prominent leaders including former Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, BJP leaders Kesava Vinayagam, Karu Nagarajan, VP Duraiswamy, and Hindu Munnani leader Raju participated in the demonstration. The protesters raised slogans demanding the protection of Hindus in Bangladesh and the immediate cessation of violent attacks against them.
திமுக அரசின் அடக்குமுறை ஒழிக… – தமிழிசை சௌந்தரராஜன் கண்டம்#tamilisaisoundararajan | #Bangladesh | #Hindus | #bjp | #protest | #chennai | #tamiljanam | #rss | #hindumunnani pic.twitter.com/eEMu3AXg6T
— Tamil Janam (@TamilJanamNews) December 4, 2024
The demonstration, however, was met with heavy police intervention. When protesters attempted to march toward Anna Salai, police blocked their path and detained them. They were later transported in buses to detention centers such as Anna Auditorium in Chennai and a community hall in Periamet. Similar protests took place in other cities such as Madurai, Trichy, Coimbatore, Sivaganga, Tirunelveli, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Mayiladuthurai, Thanjavur, and district headquarters across the state.
In Coimbatore, senior BJP leader H. Raja led a protest in Sivananda Colony, where over 500 people were arrested. Similarly, in Mannargudi, more than 600 individuals, including prominent religious figure Sri Sadagopa Ramanuja Jeeyar, a Sri Vaishnava Sanyasi, were detained during a demonstration. Pon Radhakrishnan, a former union minister, was also arrested in Mannargudi while voicing his concerns about the ongoing persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh. He told the media, “Our protests will continue until Hindus in Bangladesh regain their civil and democratic rights.”
ஹிந்து விரோதி திமுக pic.twitter.com/IMpibZEXU7
— Poongodi Suganth (Modi & Annamalai Ka Parivar) (@PoongodiSugandh) December 4, 2024
In Tirunelveli, Hindu Munnani leader Kutralanathan led a protest, expressing frustration over the silence of many Tamil Nadu residents regarding the suffering of Hindus in Bangladesh. He emphasized that only BJP, Hindu Munnani, and other Sangh Parivar organizations had shown concern, while the broader public seemed indifferent. Kutralanathan condemned the Bangladesh government’s inaction, highlighting the vandalization of ISKCON temples, branding of Hindus as terrorists, and the calls for banning Hindu organizations in the country.
Tamil Nadu BJP Chief K Annamalai also voiced strong criticism of the state government’s handling of the protests. In a social media post, he stated, “Protests all over the state are being held to condemn the attacks on Hindus and the government that supports such activities in Bangladesh. While all other states have granted permission for peaceful protests, the Tamil Nadu DMK government has not only denied permission but arrested thousands of people, including senior leaders and cadres. Expressing solidarity with Hindus in Bangladesh is our right.” Annamalai also highlighted the disturbing contrast in how the DMK government handled protests, noting that anti-Israel demonstrations in support of Hamas and Hezbollah were allowed to proceed freely.
வங்கதேச நாட்டில், ஹிந்து மத மக்கள் மீது தாக்குதல் நடத்துபவர்களுக்கு ஆதரவாகச் செயல்படும் வங்கதேச அரசைக் கண்டித்து, @BJP4Tamilnadu சார்பாகத் தமிழகம் முழுவதும் இன்று மாநிலம் தழுவிய ஆர்ப்பாட்டம் நடைபெற்று வருகிறது.
அமைதியான முறையில் நடைபெறும் இந்த ஆர்ப்பாட்டங்களுக்கு, அனைத்து மாநில… pic.twitter.com/yuJFpDrQV5
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) December 4, 2024
The Egmore police registered a case against the protesters for staging the demonstration without prior permission. Similar cases were filed across the state, as authorities sought to prevent further protests. BJP and Hindu Munnani leaders criticised the DMK government for what they described as its “anti-Hindu mentality” and “pro-minority stance,” pointing out that police had given a free pass to other protests that were potentially more controversial. They accused the Tamil Nadu government of double standards in its treatment of religious demonstrations, noting that while pro-Palestinian protests in support of terror groups were treated leniently, peaceful protests by Hindu organisations were met with repression.
Despite the arrests and police crackdown, the protests in Tamil Nadu reflect a growing sense of solidarity with the Hindu community in Bangladesh, where attacks on temples, religious figures, and everyday Hindus have been increasing. The protests, though suppressed by the authorities, have drawn significant attention to the ongoing persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh, sparking debates over the role of international diplomacy and the responsibility of the Bangladeshi government to protect its religious minorities.
As these protests continue, the demand for justice and the protection of Hindus in Bangladesh remains a central issue for many in Tamil Nadu, especially within the Sangh Parivar organizations, who vow to keep raising their voices until their concerns are addressed by the authorities in Bangladesh and India.
