Where are the sympathizers of Palestine when Hindus are being persecuted in Bangladesh?

Ajay Kumar, Lucknow

There is no shortage in India of leaders and political parties who do not hesitate to stand with Muslims in any corner of the world. When Israel takes action against Hamas terrorists in Gaza, leaders of many parties and Muslim organizations here start beating their chests and even turn violent in protest. Congress General Secretary Priyanka Vadra even arrived in Parliament carrying a Palestine bag as a mark of protest. But these same people feel ashamed to speak even a word when Hindus are persecuted or even killed anywhere in the world.These leaders, who constantly attack the Bharatiya Janata Party or Hindu organizations in the name of Dalits and backward classes, do not see the atrocities being committed against Hindus in Bangladesh and Pakistan. This can be called the peak of Muslim appeasement politics. Today, protests are being held across the country over the murder of a Hindu youth in Bangladesh, but except for a few exceptions, no major Muslim organization or Muslim vote-based leader is present. This clearly shows their attitude towards Hindus. From Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav, Azad Samaj Party’s Chandrashekhar Azad, and Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Tejashwi Yadav, all are maintaining silence. The reason is clear: fear of losing the Muslim vote bank.This petty politics of Muslim appeasement has been going on for years by riding on the backs of Dalits and backward classes.

It is noteworthy that after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government in Bangladesh, violence that began in August 2024 has targeted the Hindu community. According to reports, thousands of Hindu homes were attacked, temples were demolished, and women were subjected to atrocities. Especially backward and Dalit Hindus, such as the Namasudra and other castes, have been the worst affected. According to Human Rights Watch and local media, at least 200 Hindus have been killed, while property worth millions of dollars has been destroyed.If we focus specifically on Dalit Hindu communities, the picture becomes even more horrifying. These people, living in rural areas of Bangladesh, were already victims of poverty and discrimination. Violent mobs burned their villages and abducted women. Yet Dalit leaders in India are silent. Why? Because they do not want to upset the Muslim vote bank. This hypocrisy is clearly visible when these leaders play the Dalit card during domestic elections.Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who portrays himself as a messiah of Dalits, raised slogans of justice. During the “Bharat Jodo Yatra,” he ate at Dalit homes and carried out a “Nyay Yatra.” But when Dalit Hindus are being massacred in Bangladesh there is not a single word from him. No statement in Parliament or on social media. Why? In reality, Rahul’s silence is strategic. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Congress bet on a Muslim-Dalit alliance. Raising the Bangladesh issue could break that alliance. Remember, when violence erupted in Manipur, Rahul immediately visited the state but Bangladesh? Complete silence. This is not Dalit politics; it is vote bank politics Muslim appeasement while riding on Dalit shoulders.

From Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav to Akhilesh Yadav, the PDA (Backward, Dalit, Minority) formula has been their main weapon. In the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, they strengthened the Muslim–Yadav alliance. But atrocities against Dalit Hindus in Bangladesh? Akhilesh’s tongue seems paralyzed. Why? Because nearly 40 percent of the Samajwadi Party’s votes come from Muslims. Akhilesh has never mentioned the Bangladesh violence. Instead, he targets the Ram Temple to keep Muslims happy.To weaken Dalit leader Mayawati, the Samajwadi Party supported Chandrashekhar Azad. But if Dalit rights are being crushed in Bangladesh, why the silence? This is petty backward-class politics where Hindu Dalits are forgotten.Chandrashekhar Azad of the Azad Samaj Party (Kanshiram) calls himself a Bhim Army warrior. He took to the streets against the Citizenship Amendment Act and incited Dalit youth. But when Dalit Hindus are being persecuted in Bangladesh his eyes are closed. Chandrashekhar called the Citizenship Amendment Act anti-Dalit, even though Dalit Hindus from Bangladesh are ready to become refugees.Chandrashekhar, an MP from Nagina, Uttar Pradesh, has entered into an alliance with the Samajwadi Party. In the lure of Muslim votes, he is ignoring the issue of Hindu Dalits. On social media, he talks about caste discrimination, but the pain of Dalits in Bangladesh neither appears before his eyes nor reaches his ears. It is clear that his revolution is only for votes, not for genuine Dalit welfare.

Tejashwi Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal runs the Muslim–Yadav formula in Bihar. His father, Lalu Prasad Yadav, always practiced Muslim appeasement. Tejashwi tried to woo Dalits in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, but Bangladesh? Not even a single tweet. In Bihar, the 17 percent Muslim vote is decisive. Tejashwi’s silence is tactical. He attacks the Modi government over the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens, but avoids the issue of Hindu refugees from Bangladesh so that the Muslim vote bank is not angered.Recall that when Rohingya Muslims faced atrocities, Lalu and Tejashwi raised an uproar. But when Hindu Dalits are targeted silence. This is the dark truth of backward-class politics. These leaders treat Dalits and backward classes merely as vote banks but remain silent when real danger arises. In Bangladesh, the Hindu population has declined from 20 percent to 8 percent. Dalit Hindus are the most vulnerable. The Indian government has given refuge to refugees, but the opposition remains silent. Why? Because the Muslim vote share of 18 to 20 percent can change electoral outcomes. This is double standards talk of Dalit reservation at home, but ignoring the massacre of Dalit Hindus abroad.Political analysts believe that the upcoming 2026 West Bengal and 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections are a major reason behind this silence. Dalit organizations like the Bhim Army are also trapped in Muslim alliance politics. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party has raised the Bangladesh issue through Dalit leaders like Ramdas Athawale. If Dalit and backward leaders abandon Muslim appeasement, Hindu Dalits can benefit. The Bangladesh government should be questioned, and refugees should be given the benefits of the Citizenship Amendment Act. Otherwise, this petty politics will continue. Dalits must understand that these leaders who climb on their backs are actually hungry for votes. Raise the pain of Bangladesh only then will a true revolution come.

(The writer is a senior journalist and can be reached at Mob:- 9335566111)