Indian leaders condemn the arrest of Chinmay Das in Bangladesh

New Delhi: Amidst the turmoil over the arrest of former priest ISKCON Bangladesh Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari on accusations of sedition, Arvind Kejriwal, the leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), on Wednesday morning voiced his support for the Hindu monk and called his detention “unjust.” He urged the federal government to step in and resolve the issue.

“Saint Chinmoy Krishna Das ji, who was wrongfully detained in Bangladesh, has the support of the whole country. In order to liberate Chinmoy Das, I urge the national government to step in as quickly as possible,” former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wrote on X.

Biplab Kumar Deb, the head of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), also denounced the detention of Chinmoy Das and called Bangladesh “undemocratic.” In response to the “anti-humanitarian” situation in Bangladesh, he called for coordinated international action.

“The continuous assaults in Bangladesh on Sanatani Gurus, other religious organizations, and the Sanatani minority are completely anti-democratic and a violation of fundamental human rights norms. I vehemently oppose instances when human rights and Sanatani sensibilities are disrespected, all because of limited and entrenched interests. To stop this anti-democratic and anti-humanitarian scenario, I call for swift and coordinated international action,” BJP politician Biplab Kumar Deb said on X.

Pawan Kalyan, the deputy chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, also voiced his worries over the ISKCON priest’s detention and encouraged Mohammed Yunus’s administration in Bangladesh to put an end to crimes against Hindus.

“We should all join forces to denounce the arrest of ISKON Bangladesh Priest ‘Chinmoy Krishna Das’ by Bangladeshi law enforcement. We implore the government of Bangladesh, led by Sri Mohammed Yunus, to put an end to the atrocities committed against Hindus. Blood was shed by the Indian army, our resources were depleted, and our Army Jawans sacrificed their lives in the establishment of Bangladesh. The way our Hindu brothers and sisters are being singled out disturbs us much. Kalyan wrote on X, “We implore the United Nations to step in.”
After being taken into custody on Monday, Chinmoy Krishna Das appeared in court in Chittagong on Tuesday. He was placed under arrest after the judge rejected his bail request.

The Dhaka Tribune reports that around 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Chinmoy Krishna Das made an appearance before Judge Kazi Shariful Islam of the Chittagong Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court. He was ordered to be remanded to prison after his attorneys’ bail appeal was denied.

Chinmoy Krishna Das has been charged with sedition for allegedly hoisting a flag on a stand that was flying the national flag of Bangladesh. According to a minority leader, the complainant has subsequently indicated that they are not interested in pursuing the issue.

In addition, attorneys said that a lawyer was slain Tuesday during altercations in Chittagong, the port city of Bangladesh, over the authorities’ detention of ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das.
“Saiful Islam Alif, a lawyer, was killed in Chittagong,” Chittagong Bar Association President Nazim Uddin Chowdhury informed ANI over the phone.

However, the reason for the murder remains unclear.”Saiful Islam Arif was brutally hacked to death,” Chittagong Bar Association General Secretary Ashraf Hossain Razzak said.

“The Chittagong Bar Association has decided to suspend the court activities on Wednesday in protest of their member killing,” Razzak said.