Tharoor on lynching and protests
Tharoor termed the killing of Dipu Chandra Das, who was lynched by a mob over alleged blasphemy, as outrageous and an unwarranted incident. He backed the nationwide protests in India saying they were within their rights.
“I don’t think anyone has felt that these protests are getting out of hand. There has been no violence, no lynching and certainly any attempted violence will and should be clamped down upon by our police,” Tharoor said, while urging the Bangladesh government to follow the same approach.
He also criticised the Muhammad Yunus-led government in Bangladesh, saying expressions of regret alone were not enough.
“They have to take action because controlling the violence on the streets is their obligation as a government. They need to curb this violence. They need to ensure that the streets are calm again, that people can feel safe again,” Tharoor said.
Yunus had earlier condemned the killing and announced that several arrests had been made in the case.
The incident has strained diplomatic ties between India and Bangladesh. Protests erupted in several Indian cities, including New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Jammu, Agartala and Bhopal. Following a small protest near the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, Bangladesh suspended visa services in three Indian cities. Both countries also summoned each other’s envoys.
Tharoor backs Sheikh Hasina’s India exile
Shashi Tharoor also defended India’s decision to allow ousted Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina to stay in the country. He said India acted in a humanitarian spirit by not forcing out someone who has been a long-time friend of the country.
“A very small number of people understand the legal issues, the treaty, the obligations of the treaty, and the exceptions within the treaty. I would leave it to the government to do the appropriate consideration. But in the meantime, when we are being hospitable to a good friend,” Tharoor said.
He added that Sheikh Hasina should be allowed to remain in India safely while the government examines all aspects of the matter.
Tharoor was referring to the extradition treaty signed between India and Bangladesh in 2013 and amended in 2016. The treaty requires that an offence be punishable in both countries.
The agreement has come into focus after a tribunal court in Bangladesh handed a death sentence to Sheikh Hasina for crimes against humanity linked to a crackdown on students in 2024. Citing the treaty, Bangladesh has sought the return of Sheikh Hasina from India, calling it an obligation. Hasina has been in exile in India since August 2024, after she was removed from office as Bangladesh’s prime minister.