New York: In a surprising turn of events today, a massive puppet resembling Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made its way down Fifth Avenue in New York City. The puppet, riding in a convertible, displayed a banner with a provocative message reminiscent of a statement made by former presidential candidate Donald Trump in 2016.
The event, organized by Hindu, Sikh, and Muslim diaspora groups, aimed to draw attention to the alleged strategy of the Indian government in intimidating and assassinating US citizens of Indian descent and other activists abroad.
The collaborative effort of these diaspora organizations underscored a pressing issue, raising concerns about the implications for international relations and human rights.
The protest follows a series of alarming incidents, including an alleged attempt by Indian authorities to assassinate a US citizen in New York and the killing of a Canadian Sikh activist. The FBI even issued warnings to activists in California about similar threats, pointing to a disturbing pattern of behavior.
Voices from the diaspora, such as Sunita Viswanath of Hindus for Human Rights and Safa Ahmed of the Indian American Muslim Council, emphasized the seriousness of the situation.
They called on President Biden to acknowledge and communicate unequivocally that American lives, especially those of the diaspora, are to be protected.
The event in New York City was an act of protest, prompting urgent action to address the alleged cross-border violence. It highlighted the crucial role of democratic nations in safeguarding the rights and lives of individuals globally.
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Dhaka: The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has called on the Indian government to take immediate steps to secure the release of its priest, Chinmoy Krishna Das, detained by Bangladeshi authorities. The arrest occurred near Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.
Das, a prominent ISKCON leader and former divisional organising secretary for Chattogram, faces sedition charges stemming from an October 25 incident. According to a case filed on October 31, 19 individuals, including Das, allegedly placed a saffron flag over the Bangladeshi flag on the Independent Pillar (Shadhinata Smathamva) during a rally organised by the Hindu community under the banner Sanatan Jagaran Mancha.
ISKCON has strongly denied any involvement in terrorism, describing the allegations as "baseless and unacceptable." In a statement, ISKCON declared, "It is outrageous to make baseless allegations that ISKCON has anything to do with terrorism anywhere in the world. ISKCON urges the Government of India to engage with Bangladesh to secure the release of Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das."
Hindu communities in Bangladesh have staged protests demanding better legal protection and the establishment of a minority affairs ministry under the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
Meanwhile, Bangladeshi police have arrested two other suspects, Rajesh Chowdhury and Hriday Das, in connection with the case. The remaining accused include Ajay Dutta, Leela Raj Das Brahmachari, Gopal Das Tipu, and several others. ISKCON spokesperson Radharamn Das expressed concerns over Das's safety, stating that he had been moved to an undisclosed location by the police.