India has fully supported the step the Bangladeshi government has taken to tackle the series of attacks on the minority Hindus, BBC Bangla said yesterday. Indian external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said at a press conference in Delhi yesterday, “It has to be admitted that the (Sheikh) Hasina-led government has taken stringent steps against the attackers and more than 3,000 suspicious people have already been arrested across the country.” She added that the doors of India would remain open for the persecuted minorities in the neighbouring country. The press conference dealt with the recent incidents of attacks on minorities in Bangladesh.
The Indian minister made it clear that the Indian government was anxious about such attacks on minorities. She said she would not see such attacks as the failure of the ruling party in Bangladesh. “Such attacks are unfortunate and, at the same time, disheartening,” she added. “High-level talks are being held between the two countries in this regard. But I have to say that the Bangladeshi government is not leaving any stone unturned to take steps against the attackers. More than 3,000 people have already been arrested. Sheikh Hasina is taking stringent steps indeed,” she said. Sushma Swaraj said it was a matter of great joy that religious leaders in Bangladesh had issued the Islamic edict (fatwa) describing such attacks on minorities as un-Islamic, and that more than a lakh religious leaders had signed it.  She also said that the Indian government was obligated to give shelter to the persecuted minorities. “When we are talking about the persecuted minorities, there are Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Zionists. Persecuted minorities do not mean only Hindus. When India is preparing a policy for refugees, it is being formulated by keeping in mind the persecuted minorities in the neighbouring country,” she said. Sushma Swaraj has indirectly hinted that if the persecuted Hindus or Buddhists arrive in India from the neighbouring country, they are welcome but not the Muslims.