ISKCON official writes to UN, PM over Bangla attack

Vice-president of ISKCON, Kolkata, Radharaman Das, has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to hold talks with his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina.

Following reports of vandalism at an ISKCON temple in Bangladesh and the killing of an ashram devotee, vice-president of ISKCON, Kolkata, Radharaman Das has written to the United Nations, requesting the world body to send a delegation to the neighbouring country to look into the matter. He has also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to hold talks with his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina to end the ongoing ‘violence’ on Hindu minorities.

“We have written to the United Nations urging it to condemn this act and send a delegation to Bangladesh to make further enquiries on this incident,” Das said.

“We have also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to speak to (the) Bangladesh PM to end this cycle of violence. We will stage silent protests in all metropolitan cities, including Kolkata to condemn this violence,” he added.

Members and devotees of ISKCON, Kolkata staged a protest outside the Deputy High Commission of Bangladesh in Kolkata on Sunday evening, singing ‘kirtans’ (devotional songs).

They lit candles and held placards demanding action against the perpetrators of violence in the neighbouring country.

On Friday, a mob allegedly attacked an ISKCON temple in Bangladesh’s Noakhali district, killing one of its members. On Sunday, reports surfaced that another ashram devotee had been killed in the ongoing violence.

“It is with great grief that we share the news of an ISKCON member, Partha Das, who was brutally killed yesterday by a mob of over 200 people. His body was found in a pond next to the temple.

“We call on the Govt of Bangladesh for immediate action in this regard,” read a post on the official Twitter handle of the ISKCON community.

In his letter to the UN, Das wrote, “Yesterday, a mob of 200 plus entered our ISKCON Noakhali premises and unleashed terror for 3 hours. One of our devotees was killed and many were missing. Many are critically injured and fighting for their lives. Today morning we found the dead body of our ashram devotees, Partha Das, who had been missing since yesterday evening, floating in the temple pond.”

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