Indian Ruling Party Official Sparks Outrage by Advocating “Gaza Model” for Bangladesh

Indian Ruling Party Official Sparks Outrage by Advocating “Gaza Model” for Bangladesh
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An official from India’s ruling Hindu nationalist party has drawn widespread condemnation after suggesting that Bangladesh should be subjected to a strategy similar to the actions of Israeli forces in Gaza, according to Arabi21. The remarks have provoked political backlash across India and raised concerns about rising intolerance.

Suvendu Adhikari, a far-right leader and member of parliament from West Bengal, reportedly stated that New Delhi should “teach a lesson” to Bangladesh “as Israel did in Gaza,” according to the Indian Express. He also emphasized that India, home to nearly a billion Hindus, is governed by a government primarily serving the interests of that community.

The statements were widely criticized as promoting hatred. The Congress Party accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of embedding intolerance into its political agenda. Sagarika Ghose, leader of the Trinamool Congress, warned that the government’s approach seeks a “Hindu-only” state and described it as a divisive policy unlikely to succeed in Bengal. Kapil Sibal of the Indian National Congress noted that no legal action had yet been taken despite the gravity of the comments.

The remarks come amid heightened tensions between New Delhi and Dhaka, fueled by accusations of Indian interference ahead of Bangladesh’s upcoming elections and protests demanding the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed. The situation escalated further following the deaths of Bangladeshi activist Sharif Osman bin Hadi and Hindu worker Dipu Chandra Das, which triggered public demonstrations and diplomatic exchanges between the two nations.

Observers warn that such rhetoric could deepen bilateral tensions and exacerbate communal divisions both within India and in its relations with neighboring Bangladesh.