nThe right-wing Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) on Monday rooted for the cancellation of all India-Bangladesh cricket matches as well as cultural programs featuring Bangladeshi artists, until the attacks on Hindus stop in the neighbouring country.

In a representation submitted to the Special Executive Officer of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the HJS called for cancellation of the forthcoming tour of Bangladesh cricket team to India from September 19 to October 12. 

Advocate Anish Paralkar of HJS,Vinayak Shinde of the Manav Seva Pratishthan, Advocate Rahul Patkar, Ravindra Dasari, and Sandeep Tulsakar were present on the occasion. 

“India is set to host two Test matches and three T20s against Bangladesh from September 19 to October 12, 2024, in  Chennai, Kanpur, Gwalior, Delhi, and Hyderabad….While fanatical Jihadis in Bangladesh openly kill Hindus, burn their homes, vandalize temples, seize land, and rape Hindu women, how can we play cricket matches with them? We will never tolerate this," the HJS said in is representation to the BCCI.

“The Hindu community in Bangladesh continues to face relentless attacks, with 230 reported deaths and incidents of anti-Hindu violence across 52 of the 64 districts,” HJS national spokesperson Ramesh Shinde said.

The representation – copies of which are being sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar.

"Following the resignation of Sheikh Hasina, these attacks have intensified, especially in rural areas where Hindus live in constant fear. Recently, a young Hindu, Utsav Mandal, was brutally assaulted by a Jihadi mob inside a police station over alleged blasphemy charges, further illustrating the ongoing violence and persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh,” Shinde said.

Shinde said that as much as “Muslim countries unite and strongly oppose any attacks on the Muslim community, India should adopt a similar stance against the violence targeting Hindus in Bangladesh”.