Mamata Banerjee backs Modi govt's stand on arrest of Hindu monk in Bangladesh
Kolkata/IBNS: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said she will support whichever stand the central government takes in connection with the arrest of Hindu monk and International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) saint Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari in Bangladesh, media reports said.
Mamata made the remark on the floor of state assembly days after the monk was arrested on several charges including sedition.
"We do not want any religion to be harmed. I have spoken to ISKCON here. Since this concerns another country, the central government must take relevant action. We stand with them on this issue," the Chief Minister said as quoted by Hindustan Times.
On Wednesday, Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee spoke on the Bangladesh issue saying, "This is a matter of foreign affairs. Our party will stand by which decision the central government takes on such issues. But the incident (attack on Hindus) is condemnable and unfortunate."
“Bangladesh is a separate nation. Decisions regarding it will be made by the central government based on foreign policy. TMC will support that. However, what has happened is extremely condemnable and absolutely unacceptable.”
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A Bangladeshi court on Tuesday sent Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari to prison after rejecting his bail plea, triggering protests from the minority community and his followers.
Amid protests against his arrest, the Hindu minority leader was presented before Judge Kazi Shariful Islam of the Chittagong Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate's Court.
The Hindu leader was arrested at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport while he was travelling to Chittagong.
Bangladeshi minority community members have been protesting against the arrest of the Hindu priest.
Eversince the Sheikh Hasina government fell, relentless attacks on Hindus were carried out in Bangladesh, which is now run by an interim government headed by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus.
India expresses deep concern
India on Tuesday reacted to the arrest of ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari and urged the Bangladeshi authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities in the South Asian country.
The Ministry of External Affairs expressed deep concern over the arrest of the Hindu monk.
"We have noted with deep concern the arrest and denial of bail to Shri Chinmoy Krishna Das, who is also the spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote. This incident follows the multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh," MEA said in a statement.