BJP leaders meet the lawyer defending the arrested ISKCON monk in Bangladesh

BJP leaders praise lawyer Rabindra Ghosh for defending ISKCON monk in Bangladesh, sparking protests in West Bengal.

A delegation of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders on Tuesday (December 17, 2024) called on Bangladeshi lawyer Rabindra Ghosh, 75, who has been defending jailed Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, and lauded his efforts in defending the arrested ISKCON monk. The meeting took place in the Barrackpore area’s North 24 Parganas district, where Mr. Ghosh is visiting his son’s residence to avail medical treatment.

The group from the BJP included senior BJP leaders Arjun Singh and Kaustav Bagchi. A prominent monk of the Bharat Sevashram, Kartik Maharaj, was present with the BJP leaders. Mr. Ghosh said he would represent Mr. Chinmoy Krishna Das when his case came up for hearing before a court in Chattogram on January 2.

Describing the decision of a court in Bangladesh to not grant bail to the arrested monk as “illegal”, the lawyer said he would use all legal options available to ensure Mr. Chinmoy Krishna Das was released. Earlier, there were reports that no lawyer had represented the Hindu monk before a court in Bangladesh, leading to the prolonging of his incarceration.

“I will go to Dhaka and from there to Chattogram. There are various ways in which we can appeal against the order [on the arrest] of the monk,” Mr. Ghosh said.

Mr. Chinmoy Krishna Das, who is associated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) was arrested by the Dhaka police on November 25, and has been behind bars since then.

The arrest of the monk, and reports of attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh, has precipitated a political situation in West Bengal, triggering protests and demonstrations across the State.

“We appreciate Rabindra Ghosh’s courage in fighting for justice for Hindu minorities in Bangladesh. His relentless efforts, despite threats to his life, inspire us,” former Barrackpore MP Arjun Singh said after the meeting.