- Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Union minister Giriraj Singh and Andhra Pradesh deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan have called for United Nations’ intervention
By: Shajil Kumar
THE ARREST of a prominent Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari in Bangladesh and the subsequent the denial of bail has evoked sharp reactions in India cutting across party line, with some even calling for UN intervention.
Das, a leader of the Hindu group Sammilita Sanatani Jote, was arrested from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport area in Dhaka while travelling to Chattogram.
He was denied bail and sent to jail by a court in the port city of Chattogram in Bangladesh in a sedition case.
An assistant public prosecutor Saiful Islam was killed on Tuesday during clashes between security personnel and followers of Das during a protest march in Chattogram.
Andhra Pradesh deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan on Wednesday called for unity in condemning the arrest of Das.
The actor-politician urged the neighbouring country’s interim leader and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to take steps to stop the “atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh”.
“Let’s all unite together in condemning the detention of ISKCON Bangladesh Priest ‘Chinmoy Krishna Das’ by Bangladesh police. We urge and plead Bangladesh Govt (government) under Mohammed Yunus to stop atrocities on Hindus,” said Kalyan in a post on X.
He recalled the sacrifices of the Indian Army in the formation of Bangladesh.
“Indian army blood has been spilled, our resources had been spent, our Army Jawans lives had lost for Bangladesh formation. We are deeply disturbed by the way our Hindu brothers and sisters are being targeted,” he said while seeking the intervention of the United Nations.
Union minister Giriraj Singh on Wednesday condemned the arrest and alleged the Yunus government was under the “clutches of fundamentalists” and sought the intervention of the United Nations in the matter.
“The caretaker ‘prime minister’ of Bangladesh is in the clutches of fundamentalists. The way Hindus are being attacked is against humanity. United Nations should intervene in this matter,” Singh told reporters in Parliament complex.
Opposition condemns attack
TMC MP Saugata Roy also condemned the incident and said it is a matter of concern that Hindus are being subjected to atrocities.
“It should not happen. I condemn. The government should actively intervene in the matter,” he said.
The Congress on Wednesday expressed deep concern over the “atmosphere of insecurity” being faced by religious minorities in Bangladesh and the arrest of Hindu leader.
In a statement, chairman of the party’s Media and Publicity Department Pawan Khera said, “The Indian National Congress expects the government of India to prevail upon the Bangladesh government to take necessary steps and ensure security of life and property of minorities in the country”.
“The Indian National Congress expresses its deep concern at the atmosphere of insecurity being faced by religious minorities in Bangladesh. The arrest of the ISCKON monk is the latest example,” he said.
India on Tuesday noted with “deep concern” the arrest and denial of bail to the Hindu leader, and urged Bangladesh authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all other minority groups.
Bangladesh reaction
Bangladesh reacted sharply to the Ministry of External Affairs statement, saying it was unfounded and stood contrary to the spirit of friendship between the two countries.
In its statement, Dhaka said it does not interfere with the country’s judiciary, which is fully independent and such “unfounded statements not only misrepresent facts but also stand contrary to the spirit of friendship and understanding between the two neighbouring countries”.
Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the MEA statement does not reflect the harmony that exists among the peoples of all faiths in the country.
Dhaka said the MEA statement “completely disregards that the Bangladesh government is determined to end the culture of impunity to the perpetrators of gross human rights violations against the people of the country.”
“Bangladesh reaffirms in the strongest terms that every Bangladeshi, regardless of his or her religious identity, has the right to establish, maintain or perform respective religious rituals and practices or express views without hindrance.
“Bangladesh is also committed to upholding communal harmony in the country,” it said.
The statement also added that the Bangladesh government is deeply concerned over the brutal killing of advocate in Chattogram.
Authorities have stepped up security in the port city to ensure that religious harmony is maintained at any cost, it added.
ISKCON Bangladesh’s appeal
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has urged the Bangladesh authorities to promote “peaceful coexistence” for Hindus in the country as it “strongly” denounced the recent arrest of the prominent community leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari.
In a statement on Tuesday, ISKCON Bangladesh General Secretary Charu Chandra Das Brahmachari said, “We express our serious concern and strongly denounce the recent arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das… We also condemn the subsequent violence and attacks against Sanatanis in various regions of Bangladesh.”
“We urge the government authorities to promote peaceful coexistence for the Sanatani community,” he said.
Underlining that Bangladesh is “our birthplace and ancestral home”, the statement urged the interim government “to ensure justice for all and to allow every citizen to practice their religion freely in accordance with their beliefs and conscience”.
The statement said Das has been a vocal advocate for the protection of minority groups in Bangladesh and it is essential to uphold his right to free speech and to support his efforts to encourage others to defend this right. (PTI)
