Minister of State for External Affairs Kirtivardhan Singh informed the Rajya Sabha on August 7, that since 2021, there have been 3,582 attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh, with violence persisting in regions such as Rangpur and Chattogram. He also highlighted increasing incidents of violence against minorities in Pakistan and temple vandalism in the US, Canada, and the UK.
Replying to a question by Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Anil Desai, Minister Singh disclosed that India has raised 334 major cases of violence against minorities with Pakistan.
Regarding temple vandalism abroad, Singh reported:
- Five cases of vandalism in Hindu temples in the United States since 2021
- Four cases in Canada during the same period
- Incidents have also been reported from the United Kingdom
The Minister also addressed concerns related to the Lalmonirhat airbase in Bangladesh, confirming India is vigilant and monitoring the situation closely, particularly with regard to alleged Chinese military activities from the base.
The United Nations released a report in February 2025 highlighting that in 2024, 1,400 people were killed during crackdowns on anti-government student protests in Bangladesh, mostly due to security forces’ firing. The report termed these actions as a “crime against humanity,” calling for international investigations into systematic attacks on Hindu homes, businesses, and places of worship, especially in districts like Thakurgaon, Lalmonirhat, Dinajpur, Sylhet, Khulna, and Rangpur.
Additional Updates from Rajya Sabha Sessions
India-China Border: Minister Singh reiterated that China occupied 38,000 sq km of Indian territory following the 1962 war, and diplomatic efforts continue to resolve border disputes.
Indian Workers in Israel: As of July 1, 6,774 Indian workers have migrated to Israel under the November 2023 bilateral agreement; one was killed and three were injured in a March 2024 attack in Lebanon.
Ayushman Bharat Fraud: The government has removed 1,114 hospitals for irregularities, fined 1,504 hospitals Rs 122 crore, and suspended 549 under the health scheme.
Sickle Cell Screening: Over 2.16 lakh cases of sickle cell anaemia were detected after screening 60.4 million people across 17 states under the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Eradication Mission.
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