Bangladesh Police have detained ISKCON monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, escalating tensions further.
The arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a monk from the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), along with rising attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh, has sparked strong responses from Indian leaders. They are urging prompt action from the Narendra Modi government and international organizations.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her support for the Central government on Thursday regarding the ongoing situation, as reported by news agency ANI. Speaking in the legislative assembly, she stated, “We do not want any harm to come to any religion. I have been in contact with ISKCON representatives here. Since this involves another country, it is the responsibility of the Central government to take appropriate action. We stand united with them on this matter.”
On Wednesday, Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee and senior leader Saugata Roy strongly denounced the attacks in Bangladesh, urging swift action. “The events in Bangladesh are extremely unfortunate. The Central government must respond firmly,” stated Abhishek Banerjee.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh also condemned the violence, asserting that the interim government of Bangladesh is “under the influence of fundamentalists.”
He called on the United Nations to intervene, stating, “The attacks on Hindus and the arrest of religious leaders are cruel and intolerable.” He also criticized Opposition leaders for their silence, accusing them of showing double standards when addressing communal violence.
On Monday, Bangladeshi authorities detained ISKCON monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari near Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. This arrest, along with ongoing violence against minority communities, has further escalated tensions.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs voiced “serious concern” over the denial of bail to the ISKCON monk and called on Bangladesh to safeguard its minority communities. “We fully support the government’s stance on this issue,” stated BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra during a press conference.
Meanwhile, Opposition leaders took a critical stance against the government’s handling of the situation. Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s diplomatic effectiveness, saying, “India’s influence in the region is diminishing. Why is the Prime Minister silent as Hindus in Bangladesh endure persecution?”