SHILLONG, Oct 17: in view of the recent incidents of vandalism in neighbouring Bangladesh, the Central Puja Committee (CPC) Meghalaya has taken note of the development and expressed anguish over the large-scale attack on Hindu places of worship and Durga puja pandals in Bangladesh, including indiscriminate assault on devotees during the just-concluded festival.
“The premeditated attack, launched over different regions and districts of Bangladesh, with hundreds of people actively engaged in the Taliban-style genocide and destruction, is a blatant infringement on freedom of religion and belief practised by the Hindu minorities of Bangladesh. The reality of discrimination in the matter of Religious Rights and its denial is an everyday reality, which has led not only to untold misery, but also persecution directed against Hindus minorities,” the CPC said in a statement.
The Committee has registered strong condemnation of the attack calling it “ghastly and unprovoked” and appealed to the Bangladesh government to immediately initiate concrete action against perpetrators of such heinous crime, targeting the Hindus during the festival and in the process desecrating places of worship including causing physical injury to hundreds and death to many devotees, including a child.
“Bangladesh government has to initiate stringent measures to bring a closure to the rising fundamentalism and intolerance, raging through the country against all minorities religious groups,” the CPC said, adding that it has also decided to submit a memorandum through the Governor and Chief Minister of Meghalaya to draw the attention of the heads of state and governments of both India and Bangladesh.
