Category: India

A monk named Chinmoy Krishna Das was arrested recently, which is part of a bigger problem where Islamists have been threatening ISKCON and other Hindu religious groups. Radharaman Das, who speaks for ISKCON, said that for the past three months, there have been many threats and attacks against them, making the situation serious. ISKCON is worried and has asked the Indian government to help protect people in danger and to talk to the Bangladesh government to stop these incidents.

Chinmoy Krishna Das was taken into custody at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka while he was on his way to Chattogram. A court in Bangladesh refused to give him bail, and he’s now in prison because of charges related to sedition, which means he is accused of trying to go against the government.

ISKCON has said that their monks in different places in Bangladesh have been receiving threats about being harmed, but the local authorities haven’t helped much even after being informed about these dangers. The Indian National Congress party has also spoken out, urging the Indian government to ensure the safety of minorities in Bangladesh.

On Wednesday, Pawan Kalyan, the deputy chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, asked everyone to come together and speak out against the arrest of ISKCON priest Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh. He urged Muhammad Yunus, the interim leader and Nobel Prize winner of Bangladesh, to take action against what he calls “atrocities on Hindus” in that country.

“It hurts to see how people are suffering there. When something bad happens in Palestine, lots of people react, but when it happens in Bangladesh, hardly anyone says anything,” Pawan Kalyan told ANI.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he called for collective support: “Let’s unite to condemn the detention of Chinmoy Krishna Das by the Bangladeshi police. We urge the Bangladesh government, under Muhammad Yunus, to stop the harassment of Hindus. Our Indian soldiers have given their lives for the creation of Bangladesh, and it pains us to see our Hindu friends being attacked. We ask the UN to step in.”

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) shared its “deep concern” on Tuesday about Das’s arrest and denied bail, asking Bangladesh to protect Hindus and other minorities.

Das is a spokesperson for a group called Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote. The MEA pointed out that his arrest follows other attacks on Hindus by extremist groups in Bangladesh.

In response, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed India’s comments as “baseless” and stated that they go against the friendly relationship between the two countries. They stressed that their courts are independent, and the government does not interfere with them.

Charges Against Chinmoy Krishna Das

Chinmoy Krishna Das was arrested on Monday and was brought to a Chittagong court on Tuesday, where his request for bail was denied and he was placed in custody.

According to the Dhaka Tribune, Das appeared before Judge Kazi Shariful Islam at 11 am. His lawyers asked for bail, but the judge did not allow it, sending Das to jail. He faces serious charges of sedition for allegedly raising a flag on a stand where Bangladesh’s national flag was displayed. However, the person who made the complaint reportedly doesn’t want to continue with the case, according to a leader from the minority community.

ISKCON Bangladesh has condemned the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das and has asked the government to promote peaceful coexistence. The organization also made several requests to deal with ongoing attacks on the Sanatani community in Bangladesh.

ISKCON’s requests include making sure that those who attack the Sanatani people are held responsible, protecting the rights of Chinmoy Krishna Das and other members of the Sanatani community, and taking steps to ensure peace and harmony among all groups.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Constitution Day at the Supreme Court, stating that the Indian Constitution is essential for both today and the future. He mentioned that for 75 years, the Constitution has guided the nation through various challenges. Even during tough times like the emergency period, the Constitution proved its strength.

He proudly noted that the principles of the Constitution are fully in action in Jammu and Kashmir, where Constitution Day was celebrated for the first time this year. The Constitution was adopted by the Constituent Assembly in the Central Hall of Parliament on November 26, 1949, and came into effect on January 26, 1950. This adoption day is known as Samvidhan Divas.

Modi recalled Dr. Rajendra Prasad’s words about India needing honest leaders who put the country first. He expressed his commitment to respecting the Constitution, emphasizing that he has never overstepped his boundaries as the Prime Minister.

He also remembered the tragic Mumbai terrorist attack that happened on this day in 2008, honoring the victims and promising a strong response to any terrorist threats to India.

Before the event, Modi posted a greeting on X (formerly Twitter) to mark the 75th anniversary. Meanwhile, both the ruling BJP and opposition parties have been criticizing each other over their commitment to constitutional values.