Mamata Banerjee, Giriraj Singh, and Other Indian Leaders Demand Action Over ISKCON Monk's Arrest and Attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh

The arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, an ISKCON monk, and the rising attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh have sparked strong reactions from Indian leaders.

They are calling for immediate action from the Indian government and international bodies.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed support for the central government, saying, “We do not want any religion to be harmed. I have spoken to ISKCON here. Since this involves another country, the Central government must take action. We stand with them on this issue.”

Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee and leader Saugata Roy condemned the violence. Abhishek Banerjee urged the government to act decisively, saying, “What has happened in Bangladesh is deeply unfortunate. The Central government must act firmly.”

Union Minister Giriraj Singh also condemned the violence. He said the interim government in Bangladesh is “in the clutches of fundamentalists.” He called on the United Nations to intervene and described the attacks on Hindus and the arrest of religious leaders as “inhumane and unacceptable.” He also criticized Opposition leaders for ignoring the issue.

On Monday, Bangladesh Police arrested ISKCON monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari near Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. This, along with ongoing violence against minorities, has heightened tensions. India’s Ministry of External Affairs expressed “deep concern” over the monk’s denial of bail and urged Bangladesh to protect its minority communities. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra supported the government’s stance, saying, “We stand by the rightful position taken by the government on this matter.”

Opposition leaders, however, criticised the government's approach. Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s diplomatic efforts. He asked, “Why is the Prime Minister silent while Hindus in Bangladesh face persecution?”