Lucknow: Hundreds of students from Lucknow University on Friday staged a strong protest outside the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha, expressing anger over the alleged killing of Hindus in Bangladesh. The demonstrators raised slogans, burnt an effigy and demanded immediate intervention by the Central Government to protect the Hindu minority in the neighboring country.
The protestors alleged that incidents of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh have been occurring repeatedly, including killings and crimes against women. Holding placards and shouting slogans, the students urged the Indian government to take a firm stand on the issue at international forums.
Addressing the gathering, student leader Alok Mishra said that open killings of Hindus are taking place in Bangladesh and that Hindu women are being subjected to sexual violence, which he described as crimes against humanity. He said the protest was being organised to draw the attention of the Government of India towards the seriousness of the situation.
“We are protesting by burning the effigy of the President of Bangladesh to condemn the violence against Hindus. We demand that the Indian government intervene immediately and take strict diplomatic steps. Until the situation improves, Bangladeshi people and goods should be completely banned in India,” Mishra said.
Several other student leaders and activists, including Ritik Rawat, Harish Mishra, Udayveer, Vinay Singh, Saurabh Yadav, Prabhat Singh and Varun Upadhyay, were present at the protest along with hundreds of students from different faculties of Lucknow University. The demonstration remained peaceful, with police deployed in the area to maintain law and order.