Not involved in any conflict, Chinmoy's actions completely personal: Iskcon
Brahmachari said Chinmoy was not a spokesperson for Iskcon and his statements were completely personal
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) Bangladesh today (28 November) rejected allegations of its links with the murder of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif in Chattogram while washing its hands off of any affair related to expelled leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari.
At a press conference at its Dhaka headquarters, General Secretary Charu Chandra Das Brahmachari said, "Iskcon Bangladesh has never been involved in conflict, communal or otherwise, and continues to promote unity and harmony."
He said a group, however, continues to spread false and malicious information about the organisation.
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Charu Chandra Das also said Chinmoy Krishna, Lilraj Gaur Das and Swatantra Gauranga Das had been previously removed from the organisation for breach of organisational discipline.
He added that Chinmoy was not a spokesperson for Iskcon and his statements were completely personal.
"Therefore, Iskcon Bangladesh is not responsible in any way for the statements and actions of Lilraj Gaur Das, Gauranga Das and Chinmoy Krishna Das," Brahmachari said.
At the event, Iskcon Bangladesh President Satya Ranjan Baroi expressed condolences for the family of Saiful Islam Alif and urged authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.
On 25 October, former Iskcon Bangladesh leader Chinmoy was accused in a sedition case for allegedly disrespecting Bangladesh's national flag by hoisting a saffron flag above it during a rally organised by the Bangladesh Sanatan Jagaran Mancha in Chattogram.
The case was filed by local BNP leader Firoz Khan, who was later expelled from the party over the issue.
Chinmoy was detained by police at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka around 4:30 pm on Monday.
The following day, at 11am, Chinmoy was presented before the court of Chattogram Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate Kazi Shariful Islam, where his lawyers applied for bail. However, the court rejected the bail request and ordered his imprisonment.
A large group of people believed to be supporters of Chinmoy blocked the prison van carrying him to jail for about two and a half hours. Later, the police dispersed the protesters by throwing sound grenades and took Chinmoy to jail.
Severely injured during the protest, lawyer Saiful Islam Alif was rescued from the alley of Rangam Convention Hall opposite the main entrance to the court and taken to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
The incident led to several calls coming in demanding the ban of Iskcon.
