C T Online Desk: The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) has denied any involvement in the activities of Chinmoy Krishna Das.
Charu Chandra Das Brahmachari, general secretary of Iskcon Bangladesh, said that Chinmoy was removed from all positions within the organization long ago due to a breach of organizational discipline.
During a press conference on Thursday, Charu Chandra Das said that Iskcon bears no responsibility for any of Chinmoy Krishna Das’s statements or actions.
He stated: “There are ongoing attempts to wrongly associate Iskcon Bangladesh with the death of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif in Chittagong. We want to make it clear that Iskcon Bangladesh has no involvement in this tragic event or the ongoing protests. This false narrative has even escalated to the point where road accidents are being attributed to Iskcon”
Charu Chandra Das further clarified: “We have already addressed this issue through multiple press conferences and formal communications with government and administrative authorities. Regrettably, certain groups are intentionally spreading misinformation about our organization and are making unjustified demands to ban Iskcon.”
He added: “Several months ago, Leelaraj Gour Das, head of Prabartak Sri Krishna Mandir, Gaurang Das, and Chinmoy Krishna Das, head of Sri Sri Pundarik Dham in Chittagong, were removed from their positions and all organizational activities within Iskcon due to violations of discipline. It was clearly stated that their actions are not representative of Iskcon.”
Chandan Kumar Dhar Prokash Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, popularly known as Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a spokesperson of the Sanatan Jagaran Mancha and former leader of the Iskcon, has become a topic of national discussion following his arrest in a sedition case.
Chinmoy Krishna, who managed an Iskcon religious site called Pundarik Dham in Chittagong, was detained by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday afternoon.
On Tuesday, a Chittagong court ordered his incarceration, which led to demonstrations outside the court.
The case, filed by Md Feroze Khan at Chittagong’s Kotwali police station, accuses Chinmoy Krishna and 18 others of hoisting a saffron flag above the Bangladesh national flag during a rally organized by the Hindu community under the banner “Sanatan Jagaran Mancha” on October 25 at New Market intersection in Chittagong.
The case alleges this act was “desecration” and “contempt for the country’s sovereignty,” describing it as “treasonous activities aimed at destabilizing the nation by fostering an anarchic environment.”
A photograph of the flags went viral on social media, drawing widespread criticism and prompting the flags’ removal.
