Amid escalating tensions between India and Bangladesh, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor expressed deep concern over the developments in the neighboring country following the arrest of ISKCON spiritual leader Chinmoy Krishna Das.
Tharoor, who heads the Parliamentary Committee on External Affairs, announced a meeting scheduled for December 11 to discuss the situation in Bangladesh.
“…If the government has something to say on behalf of the Foreign Ministry, it would be good if (External Affairs Minister) S Jaishankar comes to Parliament and tells us. We have called a meeting of the External Affairs Committee on December 11 to know the details about Bangladesh. We are concerned about whatever is going on in Bangladesh…All minorities should get democratic rights in their country,” he said.
Adding a note of caution, Tharoor stated, “But it would not be appropriate to talk too much as this matter does not concern our country.”
The arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das on charges of sedition has sparked widespread outrage, with protests demanding his release. He was arrested for allegedly raising a flag on a stand displaying Bangladesh’s national flag. A Chittagong court denied his bail on November 25, sending him into custody.
ISKCON, a prominent Hindu organization, expressed solidarity with the detained leader. In a post on X, ISKCON stated:
“ISKCON, Inc. stands with Chinmoy Krishna Das. Our prayers to Lord Krishna for the protection of all these devotees.”
Uddhanand Das, an ISKCON Pracharak from Kalaburagi, Karnataka, condemned the Bangladesh government, describing it as “anti-Hindu.”
“Our goal is to condemn the anti-Hindu government in Bangladesh… We should unitedly come together and support Hindus,” he told media.
The incident has strained relations between ISKCON and the Bangladesh government, leading to unrest and heightened concerns over minority rights in the region.