Sushma Swaraj: Hindu population in Bangladesh expanding

New Delhi, July 19 Countering recognition that the number of inhabitants in Hindus in Bangladesh was declining, the government on Thursday cited official records of that nation to express that it has rather ascended by two percent in 2017.

Responding to questions in the Rajya Sabha, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj additionally said the administration has every once in a while raised the issue of the predicament of minorities in Pakistan, Bangladesh and different nations at the respective level and made efforts to take them to a logical conclusion.

She urged members to pass the Citizenship Act amendment bill, pending in the Upper House, to help settle issues relating to atrocities and assaults on minorities, incorporating those in Pakistan.

"About the demographic changes in Bangladesh, according to insights of the Bangladesh Bureau, in 2011 there were 8.4 percent Hindus in the nation, which has ascended to 10.7 percent in 2017.

"A perception that Hindus are migrating from Bangladesh and that their population is falling has been formed," she told the House.

Swaraj told members that to the extent the treatment of minorities in Bangladesh is concerned, it is true that there have been incidents of attacks on minorities yet Bangladesh government has made a move, as guaranteed.

In her written answer, she said there have been reports of viciousness and harassment against members from minority communities in neighbouring nations, for example, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, which include killings, mistreatment, terrorizing, kidnapping, constrained changes, spoilings and vandalisation of spots of worship and attacks on business establishments.

"These occurrences involve worry to the Government. Worries in the issue are consistently passed on to the individual nations at the bilateral level," she said.

She also said that the government of Bangladesh has made it clear that it considered the attacks against members from the minority networks a genuine issue and makes stern move against the culprits.

The government of Afghanistan has additionally guaranteed that it finds a way to ensure its nationals, including religious minorities, she said.

Citing to the Brahmanbaria incident in Bangladesh, she said 67 people have been captured there and legal process is on and the guilty parties are in prison. Similarly, she stated, another incident happened in Rangpur and the person who tried to actuate local people was also in prison and the judicial process was also going ahead for this case.

"We don't stay quiet by simply raising it reciprocally, we additionally guarantee to take them to logical conclusion," she said.

On the issue of minorities relocating from Pakistan, she said however this issue related to the Home Ministry, she will respond taking collective responsibility. She said various advances have been taken for their welfare.

"We have presented as well as got the Citizenship Act go in the Lok Sabha and would ask the Rajya House to pass the same, as it is pending in this House.

"Every one of their issues will be settled on the off chance that they get citizenship here. We give them a two-year long haul visa at first and after that a five-year long haul visa. Our Citizenship Act says that following seven years, in the event that they remain here, they can be allowed citizenship," she said.

"I would urge the members to pass the Citizenship Act amendment bill in this session itself, as the last session couldn't work. All problems relating to such issues will be resolved," she included.

The minister said the government has raised the issue of ill-treatment of minorities in Pakistan.

She said the issue of proceeded with poor condition and abuse of minority networks in Pakistan has been featured by India at the United Nations Human Rights Council.