Guwahati: Hare Krishna Mandir Iskcon in north Guwahati on Sunday conducted a Sankirtan for peace in Bangladesh. An Iskcon spokesperson mentioned that recent months have witnessed attacks on the Hindu community in Bangladesh, and Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sanatan Jagaran Mancha and a prominent devotee leader, was recently arrested by Dhaka police.
The Hare Krishna movement organised worldwide Sankirtan programmes to advocate for the protection of vulnerable communities following these ‘targeted attacks' on peaceful, law-abiding groups that have disturbed humanity's collective conscience. In north Guwahati, the Hare Krishna Mandir arranged a peaceful Sankirtan to show support for Bangladesh's persecuted minorities. The event saw participation from devotees and well-wishers who offered prayers to Lord Krishna.
Sri Janardhana Dasa, temple president of the Hare Krishna Movement in Guwahati, said, "We have come across disturbing reports about the violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. We are deeply concerned about the situation and expect the government of Bangladesh to ensure the safety of Chinmoy Krishna Prabhu, Iskcon devotees, and all other persecuted minority communities."
"We also request the govt of India to work with our neighbouring countries to protect the rights of minorities in the region. We conducted Sankirtan in our temple today to express our support and solidarity with the victims and pray for their well-being. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who joined us in our program, seeking the protection and blessings of Sri Radha Krishnachandra for restoring peace in Bangladesh," he added.
The local Sankirtan organisers highlighted that temples are being targeted and followers of Sanatana Dharma face serious threats. A release stated, "The fanatic mob also killed many people during their attacks. Such attacks on Hindus and other minority groups in Bangladesh have been ongoing. This needs to stop."
The release further mentioned, "The global Sankirtan event is a peaceful demonstration of the pain and grief of the global Hindu community, which stands in solidarity with the Hindus of Bangladesh. We are not against Bangladesh or any religious community there. We are only demanding the safety of all minorities in Bangladesh through this programme."