2,400 attacks on minorities in Bangladesh last year: MEA

New Delhi: External affairs minister S Jaishankar informed the Lok Sabha on Friday that there were as many as 2,400 incidents of attacks on members of the minority communities in Bangladesh in 2024 and another 72 such cases so far in 2025. He further said that in Pakistan, there were 10 incidents of attacks on Hindus in February, three against Sikhs and one against a Christian.

Responding to some members' queries about India's response to the incidents in Pakistan, Jaishankar said, "We are tracking the treatment of minorities and taking it up on international forums... We cannot change the fanatical and bigoted mindset of the neighbour. Even Indira Gandhi could not change it."

Some Congress MPs objected to the remarks, apparently to the reference to the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, but soon returned to their seats.


On queries on Bangladesh incidents, the external affairs minister said, "We track the welfare and well-being of minorities in Bangladesh. In 2024, we had altogether 2,400 incidents relating to attacks on minorities and in 2025, 72 incidents. We have the details of these incidents. I have taken it up with my counterpart. The foreign secretary took it up when he visited Bangladesh, and this continues to be a matter of concern for the Government of India."

On the details of 10 incidents against Hindus in Pakistan, Jaishankar said seven related to abduction and forced conversion, two related to abduction and one related to police action against students who were celebrating Holi. Of the three incidents against Sikhs, one was an attack on a family, another related to threatening a Sikh family for reopening an old gurdwara and the third involved abduction and forced conversion of a Sikh girl. The incident against a Christian was about slapping a blasphemy charge.

About the incidents in Pakistan, Jaishankar further said, "In February, our representative at the UN Human Rights Council pointed to human rights violations, persecution of minorities and systematic erosion of democratic values as state policy in Pakistan. It brazenly harbours UN-sanctioned terrorists. Our ambassador in the UN General Assembly underlined the fanatical mindset of Pakistan just two weeks ago."