NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and workers, led by West Bengal Assembly Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, held a protest march to the Bangladesh High Commission in Kolkata on Wednesday.
The demonstration was staged in response to the recent arrest of ISKCON Bangladesh priest Chinmoy Krishna Das by Dhaka police. Carrying placards and chanting slogans, they marched towards the High Commission.
Giving details of the protest march, BJP leader Agnimitra Paul said, “8 of our MLAs have got the permission to go inside (the High Commission of Bangladesh). Our MLAs from border areas including the LoP (Suvendu Adhikari) will go, the rest of us will be outside. We are worried about our Hindu brothers and sisters who are being killed, especially about the arrest of Chinmoy Das Prabhu. We want his unconditional release. We can’t tolerate such atrocities against our Hindu brethren. If something happens to Chinmoy Das ji, we won’t keep quiet, Bengal won’t keep quiet, Hindus of Bengal won’t keep quiet.”
Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, prominent spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote, was arrested at Dhaka airport on Monday while preparing to board a flight to Chattogram. Police, led by spokesperson Talebur Rahman, confirmed the detention but refrained from disclosing specific charges. Das is reportedly facing sedition charges stemming from allegations of disrespecting the Bangladeshi flag during an October rally in Chattogram, where he and 18 others were implicated. Known for his leadership in protests against anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh, Das was taken to a police station following his arrest.
ISKCON leaders demand justice
Several ISKCON leaders have condemned the arrest and demanded justice for the arrested Hindu priest.
ISKCON Kolkata Vice President Radharaman Das condemned the arrest and said,”…It is saddening when fingers are pointed at an organisation without any evidence (in Bangladesh).”
ISKCON, General secretary of Bangladesh National Hindu Grand Alliance, Dr Mrityunjay Kumar Roy also opposed the arrest. “We strongly oppose this. What has ISKCON done?…ISKCON is a peaceful organisation which talks about Shri Krishna and works for the welfare of the poor,” he said.
