July Oikya on Thursday condemned a recent statement by India’s Ministry of External Affairs that labelled the July Oikya’s movement as an “extremist group”, describing it as a manifestation of India’s own extremism and a direct attack on Bangladesh’s democratic movement and sovereignty.

The remarks came at a press conference held at Madhur Canteen on the Dhaka University campus on Thursday afternoon.

AB Zubair, one of the organisers of July Oikya and DUCSU social services secretary, addressed the media.

He said the Indian foreign ministry’s comment had misrepresented a peaceful and democratic movement as extremist, which, he claimed, demonstrated India’s political and moral bankruptcy.

According to him, hundreds of social, cultural and political platforms associated with the July movement view the statement as a violation of diplomatic norms and a stance against democracy and human rights.

AB Zubair further alleged that ousted Sheikh Hasina and her associates fled to India after committing genocide in Bangladesh, accusing New Delhi of breaching the limits of foreign policy by sheltering those responsible for mass killings.

Speakers at the press conference said the “March to the Indian High Commission”, announced on Wednesday (17 Dec) under the banner of July Oikya, concluded peacefully.

Although the march began from Rampura Bridge, protesters faced police obstruction in the Badda area and halted there in respect of law enforcement agencies.

July Oikya claimed that former patriotic army officers, as well as leaders and activists from various political parties, socio-cultural organisations and student bodies, took part in the programme.

However, the organisation said the Modi government had dismissed the event as “a movement of some extremist groups in Dhaka”, a description it termed baseless and politically motivated.

DUCSU Health and Environment Secretary Abdullah Al Minhaj alleged that Indian High Commissioner Prannoy Kumar Verma’s contacts with accused Awami League leaders during and after the crimes against humanity committed in July- August 2024 posed a threat to Bangladesh’s security and sovereignty.

July Oikya also accused India of harbouring perpetrators of genocide and failing to take effective action against radical Hindu extremists allegedly involved in attacks on the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala.

In this context, the organisation urged Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to seek a formal explanation from New Delhi and demanded that the Indian High Commissioner be declared persona non grata under Article 9 of the Vienna Convention.

They announced that they would march to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs if no action is taken within the next 72 hours.

It also declared protest marches in Chattogram, Barishal and Sylhet on Friday, followed by a march and submission of a memorandum to the foreign ministry on 23 December in protest against Indian hegemony.