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On Friday, addressing the media Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaswal said the continuing violence against minorities at the hands of extremist elements was a matter of “grave concern”

New Delhi: India delivered one of its sharpest public censures of the worsening situation in Bangladesh, expressing deep concern over what it described as “unremitting hostility” against religious minorities — Hindus, Christians and Buddhists — and firmly rejecting attempts to divert responsibility through rising anti-India rhetoric.

On Friday, addressing the media Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaswal said the continuing violence against minorities at the hands of extremist elements was a matter of “grave concern”. He strongly condemned the recent gruesome killing of a Hindu youth in Mymensingh and called for those responsible to be swiftly brought to justice.

Citing independent documentation, Jaiswal said more than 2,900 incidents of violence against minorities — including killings, arson, vandalism and land-grabbing — have been recorded during the tenure of Bangladesh’s interim government. “These incidents cannot be brushed aside as media exaggerations or dismissed as political violence,” he said, underlining that the pattern of attacks points to a severe law-and-order failure.

India also took strong exception to what it termed a “false narrative” being propagated in Bangladesh amid escalating anti-India rhetoric. “Law and order, security and internal developments in Bangladesh are the responsibility of the government of Bangladesh. To portray a narrative where these are attributed elsewhere is completely false, and we categorically reject it,” Jaiswal said, noting that New Delhi has issued multiple statements in recent days countering such claims.

The remarks come in the backdrop of a spate of mob attacks targeting Hindus in Bangladesh, including the lynching of Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh following an alleged blasphemy accusation, and the killing of Amrit Mondal in Rajbari district. These incidents have heightened fear and insecurity among minority communities, particularly amid continuing political uncertainty following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government.

Commenting on recent political developments in Dhaka — including the return of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman after 17 years in exile — India reiterated its support for free, fair, inclusive and participatory elections in Bangladesh. “This development must be seen in that context,” Jaiswal said, reaffirming New Delhi’s long-standing position in favour of credible polls conducted in a peaceful and stable environment.

At the same time, India underlined its commitment to close and friendly relations with the people of Bangladesh, rooted in the shared liberation struggle. It strengthened through development cooperation and people-to-people ties. “We stand for peace and stability in Bangladesh,” Jaiswal said, adding that India has been consistent in calling for the protection of minorities and the upholding of democratic norms.

On the recent lynching incidents, the spokesperson said India’s position on the safety and security of minorities in Bangladesh was “apparent”, signalling that New Delhi would continue to monitor developments and raise concerns whenever necessary.