NEW DELHI – Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has expressed deep concern over the ongoing violence against minority Hindus in Bangladesh and the arrest of ISKCON monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, calling for urgent intervention by the Indian government.
“The news of the arrest of the saint of ISKCON Temple in Bangladesh and the continuing violence against minority Hindus are extremely worrying,” Priyanka Gandhi said in a statement. She urged the Indian government to “strongly raise the issue of ensuring the safety of minorities before the Bangladesh government.”
The arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das occurred at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport while he was en route to Chattogram. Das was charged with sedition and accused of allegedly misusing Bangladesh’s national flag. Despite the complainant later expressing unwillingness to pursue the case, Das was denied bail and sent to jail by a Chittagong court.
The Indian government has expressed “deep concern” over these developments, urging Bangladeshi authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and other minorities.
The arrest has triggered protests across India. BJP Leader of Opposition in West Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari, led a demonstration outside the Legislative Assembly, condemning the monk’s detention. “All Hindus should take to the streets. This is not just a protest but a fight for the survival of Bangladeshi Hindus,” Adhikari declared, announcing a mass protest organized by the Hindu Jagran Manch for Thursday.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also criticized the incident. “The entire nation stands in solidarity with Saint Chinmoy Krishna Das ji, who was unjustly arrested in Bangladesh. I appeal to the central government to intervene in this matter as soon as possible to free Chinmoy Das,” Kejriwal said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
As tensions rise, political leaders and activists across India continue to press for diplomatic action, emphasizing the urgent need to address the safety of Hindus in Bangladesh.