Srinagar, Dec 23 (NationPress) The Jammu and Kashmir branch of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has vocally criticized the National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for what they perceive as a disturbing silence regarding the killings of minorities in Bangladesh.

BJP J&K spokesperson, Manzoor Ahmad Bhat, expressed significant concern and sorrow over the rising violence faced by minorities in Bangladesh.

In response to the alarming reports of gruesome killings and lynchings targeting Hindus and other minority groups, Bhat challenged the noticeable silence from regional leaders such as Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti.

Drawing a frightening comparison to the crisis in 1990 Kashmir, Manzoor Ahmad Bhat articulated that the distressing images emerging from Bangladesh serve as a chilling reminder of the Kashmiri Pandit genocide. He stated that the patterns are eerily similar.

“What we witnessed in Kashmir in 1990—targeted killings, an atmosphere of terror, and the forced exodus of minorities—is currently being reenacted in Bangladesh. This is a deliberate attempt to ethnically cleanse the land of its minority population. My heart aches when I see the same anguish reflected in the eyes of Bangladeshi Hindus that I observed in my Kashmiri Pandit brothers decades ago. It is tragic that while the world looks towards 2025, the mindset of extremists remains trapped in a violent past,” he noted.

Raising concerns about the inaction of Kashmiri leaders, he remarked, “Those who chose silence then are silent now, demonstrating that they have not learned from history. It is profoundly disheartening to witness those who profess to be advocates for human rights and 'bhaichara' (brotherhood) in Jammu & Kashmir remain mute. When minor incidents occur in India, figures like Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti are the first to express their views on secularism. Yet today, as our Hindu brothers and sisters are being dragged out and killed in Bangladesh, where is their moral compass? Why has their 'Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb' gone silent?”

Bhat emphasized that Islam promotes protection, not silence. “The Prophet of Islam (Peace Be Upon Him) always championed the defense of the vulnerable and displayed immense grace even towards his adversaries. A faithful follower of this religion cannot simply stand by and witness such inhumanity. By remaining silent, these regional parties are illustrating that their empathy is selective and primarily motivated by electoral politics,” he asserted.

The BJP spokesperson urged the Central government to adopt more stringent measures on the international stage. “The safety of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh is not merely an internal issue of another country; it is a matter of civilizational duty. If the interim government there fails to safeguard its citizens, the Government of India must take decisive action. While resettling millions poses a significant logistical and economic challenge, India has always served as a natural refuge for the persecuted. Our priority should be to ensure their safety, but if conditions become intolerable, India will not close its doors to its own people,” he remarked.

He further stated that the international community must hold the perpetrators accountable to prevent anyone from being forced to abandon their ancestral homes out of fear.

The BJP spokesperson called for unity among the people of India beyond political affiliations. “Secularism cannot be a one-way street, and it is imperative for every political representative in J&K to unequivocally condemn the atrocities occurring in Bangladesh,” he concluded.