Is Bihar's voter rolls revision justified or politically motivated?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
27 minutes ago
- News18
Bangladesh's Only ‘Hindu' Political Party Pins Hopes On Yunus After Hasina's ‘Betrayal'
Last Updated: The Bangladesh Sanatan Party came into being on August 26, 2022, and is now awaiting registration as a political outfit In a nation where the official Census data shows how the Hindu population shrank from 8.54 per cent in 2011 to 7.95 per cent in 2022 while Sheikh Hasina was in power, the idea of a political party meant for Hindus is rather bold. Despite the odds being stacked against it, the Bangladesh Sanatan Party (BSP) came into being on August 26, 2022, announcing its arrival from Dhaka. However, opposition from radical elements prevented Sheikh Hasina from allowing BSP to register it as a political outfit. The registration of a political party is usually the job of the Election Commission but, in Bangladesh, things work differently. Speaking to News18 over the phone from Bangladesh, BSP's founder and general secretary, Sumon Kumar Roy, said: 'No, the Election Commission is not independent here. It works according to the wishes of either the government of the day—in this case the interim government headed by Md Yunus—or the Army top brass." With Roy's limited access to the Bangladesh Army, he is trying to lobby with the interim government and make a case on why allowing the BSP in the political fray is a win-win. According to Roy, the Hindus, who so far voted en bloc for Hasina's Awami League, will have a party of their choice after the registration of the Awami League was revoked this May under Section 90B of The Representation of the People Order 1972. Meanwhile, the Yunus-led interim government—-which has been internationally accused of failing to protect the country's minorities since August 5, 2024, when Hasina fled to India—will have a face-saver. 'I am not against Hasina. She had great administrative knowledge. But Hasina treated Hindus as mere vote banks. One of her major drawbacks was that she wanted to keep everyone happy, be it India or China, the radicals and the Hindus alike. You can't. This is why we had to launch BSP in 2022," clarifies Roy. Ever since August 5, 2024, the situation has only deteriorated for Hindus in Bangladesh. Dhaka Tribune reports that there have been a total of 2,010 incidents of communal violence between August 4 and August 20 in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad revealed that during the said period, 915 homes of minorities were attacked, 953 businesses targeted, 69 temples hit, nine people were killed and four women sexually assaulted. 'Approximately 50,000 men, women, teenagers, children, and people with physical or mental disabilities were directly affected, with an estimated 20 million religious and ethnic minorities suffering from trauma nationwide in the last 17 days," wrote Dhaka Tribune on September 20. Between August 5, 2024, and early 2025, as many as 23 Hindus were killed and 152 more temples were attacked in Bangladesh. Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu—a popular Hindu monk and spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatan Jagaran Mancha that spearheaded many protests—was arrested on November 25, 2024, and slapped with sedition charges. Roy says it's more important than ever for the Hindus to have a political outfit of their own in Bangladesh. 'There are 55 registered political parties in Bangladesh right now, and 23 of them are Islamist parties. Shouldn't Hindus have at least one party of their own?" asks the BSP general secretary. However, records seem to suggest that there are currently around 50 registered political parties in Bangladesh. The Election Commission of Bangladesh has stringent requirements for a new political party to get registered. For instance, it must have at least 100 subdivisions and 21 district committees. Bangladesh Sanatan Party claims it has 120 subdivisions and more than 50 district committees — much more than the requirements, proof of which is being submitted to the poll body. However, it requires at least 122 party offices, which is where the BSP is lagging. 'It involves a lot of money. And I can vouch for it, a vast chunk of registered parties don't have 122 party offices even today. So why single us out?" Roy asks. Roy says he feels 'betrayed" by Hasina for not allowing Bangladesh's first 'Hindu' party while being the pro-Hindu mascot. But what makes him think Md Yunus will help him, given his government's track record? 'No one will allow us. No one will allow the Hindus of Bangladesh to come to power. Still, we are trying. Few have called us communal. They want us to drop the word 'Sanatan', while not raising eyebrows over the names like Islami Andolan Bangladesh or Bangladesh Islamic Front," he says. Before hanging up, Roy said, 'Now, roughly 4 per cent of Bangladesh's population constitutes our party members or supporters. Please pray, so that BSP can get the recognition for them." About the Author Anindya Banerjee Anindya Banerjee, Associate Editor brings over fifteen years of journalistic courage to the forefront. With a keen focus on politics and policy, Anindya has garnered a wealth of experience, with deep throat in ...Read More view comments First Published: July 10, 2025, 11:45 IST News world Bangladesh's Only 'Hindu' Political Party Pins Hopes On Yunus After Hasina's 'Betrayal' Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
LA Tunnel Horror: Watch Miraculous Escape Of 31 Trapped Workers; Scaled Heap Of 15-feet High Soil
Bihar Assembly Election: What's Really Happening in Bihar? The Electoral Controversy Explained Bihar is witnessing a massive political earthquake over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with the opposition calling the Election Commission biased and 8 crore voters reportedly impacted. The controversy includes allegations of genuine voter deletion, irregular documentation demands, and voter addresses bizarrely marked as cremation grounds, leading to the opposition dubbing the EC as "Godi Aayog" and calling for a complete Bihar shutdown. With the Supreme Court set to hear the case on July 10th, this electoral storm raises critical questions about democracy and voter rights - is this necessary housekeeping or political manipulation?#BiharBandh #ElectionCommission #IndianPolitics #VotingRights #Bihar #Democracy #Explained 3.4K views | 13 hours ago
Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
Trump-Putin BROMANCE Ends? US Pres. BACKS Bill To Slap 500% Tariffs On Nations Trading With Russia
Bihar Assembly Election: What's Really Happening in Bihar? The Electoral Controversy Explained Bihar is witnessing a massive political earthquake over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with the opposition calling the Election Commission biased and 8 crore voters reportedly impacted. The controversy includes allegations of genuine voter deletion, irregular documentation demands, and voter addresses bizarrely marked as cremation grounds, leading to the opposition dubbing the EC as "Godi Aayog" and calling for a complete Bihar shutdown. With the Supreme Court set to hear the case on July 10th, this electoral storm raises critical questions about democracy and voter rights - is this necessary housekeeping or political manipulation?#BiharBandh #ElectionCommission #IndianPolitics #VotingRights #Bihar #Democracy #Explained 3.4K views | 13 hours ago
