Foreign Secretary Vikram Mishri’s recent visit to Dhaka has set the stage for easing tensions between India and Bangladesh over alleged attacks on minorities and the arrest of Hindu monks, with ISKCON hoping for a peaceful resolution to the issue. It will instead allow the government’s diplomatic channels to do their job.
Chinmoy Krishna Das, a former ISKCON member, was arrested in Dhaka on charges of sedition on November 25 — accused of flying the saffron ISKCON flag over the national flag of Bangladesh on October 25 — straining relations between the two countries and sparking massive protests in India. Hindu cause.” Speaking to The Indian Express, ISKCON India vice-president Devkinandan Das said the organization has been “peacefully and selflessly serving society” for nearly 60 years worldwide and especially in Bangladesh for 50 years. We hope that all our members are natives of Bangladesh, who are safe from threats from some extremists cares deeply and wants to see it as a peaceful, prosperous and religiously harmonious society,” said Devkinandan Das.
As for the security of ISKCON centers in Bangladesh, he said, the organization would “rather let the diplomatic channels of the Indian government do their job”.
ISKCON’s India Country Director and National Spokesperson Yudhishthir Govinda Das said the organization did not want to be drawn into the Hindu persecution debate or the politics surrounding the arrests. “ISKCON has no political affiliation with any political party and has always worked for inter-faith harmony. Our services are open to all irrespective of caste, caste, gender, religion and nationality. We collaborate on community projects with governments in countries where we are present,” he said.
On the former ISKCON member’s arrest in Dhaka and protests back home in India, he said, “His right as a citizen of Bangladesh to peacefully advocate for the rights of Hindus and minorities needs to be recognized and protected.”
However, he was careful not to mention how many monks were stranded in Bangladesh, saying that “the reality needs to be heard from the devotees first”. He also stressed that ISKCON wants justice “for all minorities, not just Hindus”.
Delhi’s efforts continue
Foreign Secretary Vikram Mishri met his Bangladesh counterpart on November 9 and discussed ‘a whole range of issues’ in bilateral relations. He also expressed India’s concern, especially for the protection of minorities.
Acknowledging that the organization faces challenges from extremists in Bangladesh, he was candid about the Muhammad Yunus government’s efforts to protect ISKCON temples. “The situation is really alarming as many of our members are receiving threats, some of our centers have been vandalized. Therefore, we appeal to the government agencies to ensure the safety of not only our 140 temples and devotees but also the entire religious minority community to rebuild an atmosphere of peace and coexistence in the country. We also have to acknowledge the efforts of the army to provide us security. They appeared immediately and managed the situation but the culprits are yet to be arrested,” said Yudhishthir Das.
About the organization’s activities in Bangladesh, he said, “In the 1970s, when ISKCON was still in its early days, ISKCON’s founder-acharya Srila Prabhupada saw the plight of the people of post-war Bangladesh and requested his disciples to help them. Thus feed and feed all without discrimination.” Our Food for Life program started. Apart from our centers, we also support schools, old age homes, orphanages, medical camps and disaster relief. We also conduct efforts … In his Stanford Commencement address, Steve Jobs recalled how he spoke for 7 miles.A good meal at the Hare Krishna temple… decision-making power in our organizational hierarchy with secular-minded professionals It happens.”
About the organization’s global work, he pointed out that at COP28 in Abu Dhabi and COP29 in Baku, ISKCON was invited to present its formula for preventing environmental degradation through case studies of its eco-farms and green temples.
“For the youth, we conduct de-addiction programs and workshops for stress and lifestyle management,” said Das.
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