The arrest of ISKCON monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari and the rising violence against Hindus in Bangladesh have sparked strong reactions from Indian leaders, urging immediate intervention by the Narendra Modi government and international bodies.
On Thursday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her support for the Centre’s stance on the issue. Speaking in the legislative assembly, Banerjee said, We do not want any religion to be harmed. I have spoken to ISKCON here. Since this concerns another country, the Central government must take relevant action. We stand with them on this issue.
She added Bangladesh is a different country. The government of India will look into it. It does not come under our jurisdiction. We are not supposed to talk about it or interfere. While we feel sorry inside, we follow the policies set by the Centre.
Earlier, Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee and senior leader Saugata Roy condemned the attacks and called for firm action. Abhishek Banerjee stated, “What has happened in Bangladesh is deeply unfortunate. The Central government must act decisively.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh also condemned the violence, describing the Bangladesh interim government as being in the clutches of fundamentalists. He urged the United Nations to intervene, saying that the attacks on Hindus and the arrest of religious leaders were inhumane and unacceptable. Singh also criticized Opposition leaders, accusing them of double standards when addressing communal violence.
On Monday, Bangladesh police arrested Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari near Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. This incident, combined with the ongoing violence against minorities, has raised tensions.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs expressed deep concern over the denial of bail to the monk and urged Bangladesh to protect its minority communities. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra supported the government’s position, saying, We stand by the rightful position taken by the government on this matter.
However, Opposition leaders criticized the government’s approach. Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi questioned Prime Minister Modi’s diplomatic efforts, stating, that India’s influence in its neighborhood is waning. Why is the Prime Minister silent while Hindus in Bangladesh face persecution?
