Surge in anti-Muslim sentiment in India following Sheikh Hasina’s departure
New Delhi: In the wake of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s exit, Modi’s India has witnessed a disturbing surge in anti-Muslim sentiment, accompanied by a series of violent incidents targeting Muslim communities and Rohingya refugees.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the escalation in hate-driven actions appears linked to inflammatory rhetoric from far-right Hindu extremists.
Just three days after Hasina’s departure, extremist groups led by Daksh Chaudhary of the Hindu Raksha Dal launched a brutal assault on Rohingya refugee camps in Delhi. Eyewitness footage reveals assailants hurling slurs and chanting, “They are all Bangladeshis. Go away from here… these people are living in our country! Expel them.”
The violence was not limited to refugees; members of Hindu Raksha Dal also targeted local slum dwellers, accusing them of being illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. The attackers used sticks to beat residents and set fire to their homes. In a slum near Galdhar Railway Station in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, bloodstains, ashes, and remnants of belongings were discovered, indicating a swift and terrifying exodus of Muslim families who fled the violence. Local Hindu residents reported threats from the Hindutva mob, including warnings to those who did not join the attacks.
The anti-Muslim fervor was further fueled by incendiary speeches delivered by far-right Hindu leaders at Hanuman Mandir in Dadar, Mumbai. Dhanashree Kelshikar of Sanatan Sanstha and Ranjeet Savarkar, among others, called for the expulsion of Muslims and Rohingyas from India, accusing them of fostering jihad and threatening Hindu safety. Savarkar went as far as to advocate for rifle training and economic boycotts against halal-certified products, urging Hindus to exclusively support businesses owned by Hindus.
These statements were part of a broader protest organized by the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti. Since August 11, reports of violence against Muslims have surfaced across various Indian states, including Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Maharashtra. The rise in provocative gatherings and escalating hostility underscores a deeply troubling trend of anti-Muslim hatred and violence in India.
