On Friday, S. Jaishankar, external affairs minister, stated that the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus is in charge of safeguarding all of Bangladesh’s inhabitants, including its minorities.
Jaishankar made the statement in response to a question in the Lok Sabha about violence against minorities, including Hindus, in Bangladesh.
Jaishankar said, since August 2024, when Sheikh Hasina was compelled to leave Bangladesh, the administration has received multiple allegations of violence against Hindus and other minorities. He continued by saying that during Bangladesh’s most recent Durga Puja celebration, there were also allegations of attacks on temples and puja mandaps.
In his response, Jaishankar stated, “Government had taken a serious note of these incidents and shared its concerns with the Government of Bangladesh”.
Jaishankar added that the Indian High Commission in Dhaka is still keeping a careful eye on the situation involving Bangladesh’s minorities. He noted that “the Government of Bangladesh bears the primary responsibility for the protection of life and liberty of all citizens of Bangladesh, including minorities.”
ISKCON priest’s arrest
In the midst of protests and turmoil in Bangladesh, the external affairs minister responded to the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a former priest of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Bangladesh, on allegations of sedition. During an October rally, Das is accused of raising a saffron flag above the national flag of Bangladesh.
The detention of Chinmoy Krishna Das has drawn criticism from a number of Indian political figures, including opposition figures, who have urged the Narendra Modi-led central government to step in and address the issue.
The detained Hindu monk, Chinmoy Krishna Das, has also received support from former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has stated that he was “unjustly arrested” and needs to be freed right once. The government of Bangladesh has also been urged by Hasina to defend religious and ethnic minorities that have braved violence since she was overthrown in August.
Read Also: SC Halts Any Action On Sambhal Mosque Survey Until January 8
