India's BJP demands release of Chinmoy Krishna Das, threatens blockade on border
The BJP warned that if he is not released, protests will be held at the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, and the Sanatan community will block the Bangladesh border with flags
In the wake of the arrest of Bangladeshi Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, an ISKCON leader and spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatan Jagaron Jote, the Indian Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in West Bengal has threatened to initiate a 'blockade' on the border while also demanding his release.
West Bengal state's opposition leader, Suvendu Adhikari, came up with the statement after attending an event with BJP lawmakers on Monday.
Expressing concern over the arrest, Suvendu said, "We demand his unconditional release."
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The BJP leader said they will hold protests in front of the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata condemning the arrest.
He also threatened to block the Bangladesh-India border with flags if Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari is not released.
Suvendu Adhikari demanded the release of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari in a post on his verified Facebook account.
Earlier on Monday, Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari was arrested from the airport area in the capital Dhaka.
On 25 October, Chinmoy was accused in the sedition case for allegedly disrespecting Bangladesh's national flag by hoisting a saffron flag above it at a rally organised by the Bangladesh Sanatan Jagaran Mancha in Chattogram city.
Eighteen others were also accused in the case filed by BNP leader Firoz Khan, who was subsequently expelled from the party, soon after the event.
Recently, the Bangladesh Sanatan Jagaran Mancha and the Bangladesh Sammilita Sankhalaghu Jote joined forces and started organising events under a new coalition named Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote. Chinmoy was made its spokesperson.
Meanwhile, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Bangladesh has recently expelled Chinmoy, also known as Krishna Prabhu Das, who was its spokesperson.
In recent months, he had organised multiple rallies in various districts to condemn what the protesters "describe as atrocities against fellow devotees."
