BJP workers staged a protest outside a private hospital in Kolkata on Saturday, demanding that the institution stop treating non-Hindu patients from Bangladesh. The protest, led by the ‘Salute Tiranga’ group, was sparked by concerns over the treatment of Hindu minorities in Bangladesh.
The protestors submitted a memorandum to the hospital, arguing that India’s national interest and the safety of Hindus in Bangladesh should take precedence. They stated that due to the violence against Hindu minorities in Bangladesh, no medical services should be extended to non-Hindu Bangladeshi citizens. “Country comes first… our brothers and sisters are being tortured and killed over there,” the memorandum read.
Narayan Chatterjee, a member of the protest group, expressed his pain over the ongoing persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh, emphasizing the need to prioritize national interests over business concerns. “It’s time that we keep our ethics and business aside for the respect of our Nation, Tricolour the Tiranga,” he added.
The protestors vowed to extend their actions to other private hospitals in Kolkata, claiming to have already pressured another hospital into halting medical treatment for Bangladeshi nationals. This follows a series of similar incidents, including one earlier this month when a 141-bed hospital in Kolkata announced it would no longer admit Bangladeshi patients, citing disrespect for the Indian national flag in Bangladesh as a motive.
Furthermore, political tensions between India and Bangladesh have resulted in the absence of Bangladeshi stalls at major events like the Kolkata International Book Fair and the Bidhannagar Mela Utsav. The 30th International Film Festival in Kolkata also saw no representation from Bangladesh, as several Bangladeshi artists were denied visas.
These incidents highlight the growing political strain between the two neighboring countries and the impact it is having on cultural and diplomatic exchanges.
