Washington:

US Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has expressed grave concern over the recent unrest in Bangladesh following the arrest of ISKCON priest Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari.

In an official statement, he urged the Bangladeshi government to uphold human rights, guarantee legal protections, and end the wave of violence targeting Hindus and other minority groups.

“The ongoing violence against Hindus and others across Bangladesh is unacceptable and must end immediately. I strongly urge the government of Bangladesh to take decisive steps to reduce tensions peacefully now,” he said.

The Illinois Congressman highlighted the need for Bangladesh to safeguard peaceful protests and ensure the arrested individuals receive proper legal representation.

“The government of Bangladesh must uphold and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the rights to peaceful protest and proper legal representation,” he stated, adding that such measures are vital to de-escalate the current tensions.

The unrest stems from the sedition charges filed against Chinmoy Krishna Das for allegedly raising a saffron flag above Bangladesh’s national flag in Chittagong on October 25. His arrest on November 25 sparked protests, culminating in violent clashes between his followers and law enforcement outside the Chattogram Court Building on November 27, which resulted in the death of a lawyer.

The situation has worsened following additional arrests.

According to ISKCON Kolkata, two monks, Adipurush Shyam Das and Ranganath Das Brahmachari, were detained on November 29 after visiting Chinmoy Krishna Das in custody. The organisation’s Vice President, Radha Raman, also claimed that rioters vandalised an ISKCON centre in Bangladesh during the unrest.

Adding to the controversy, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council condemned what they described as a “false and harassing case” against 70 minority lawyers and two journalists accused of fabricated crimes, including vandalism and bomb explosions. The council has called for the immediate withdrawal of these charges, stating they were designed to hinder the sedition case against Chinmoy Krishna Das and suppress related news coverage.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has also voiced concern over escalating violence and extremist rhetoric in Bangladesh, emphasising that it has consistently raised the issue of targeted attacks on minorities with Dhaka.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Washington:

Describing Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a popular leader, a US congressman has exuded confidence that he would be re-elected in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

“Prime Minister Modi is incredibly popular. I was just over there. I actually had lunch with Prime Minister Modi and several other congressmen, and to see his popularity across party lines really. Somebody who I think is around 70 per cent popular. He is going to be prime minister again,” Congressman Rich McCormick, a Republican from Georgia, told PTI in an interview.

“To see his progressive outlook on economy, on development, on goodwill towards all people, to see his application and positivity to the Indian people in the diaspora worldwide is going to affect the global economy, their strategic relationships. I look forward to his influence in a very positive way,” he said in response to a question.

India’s economy, under PM Modi’s leadership, he said, is expanding anywhere from four to eight per cent per year. “If you look at their willingness to work with other nations now, I would say, I’ll put a caveat in there, sometimes there’s a bit of protectionism, which a lot of characters do. They’ve kind of copied some things that China have done. They’ll have incredible leverage going forward as businesses want to get into India in an expanding market,” Mr McCormick said.

“We just have to be sure that we do it in a way that makes sense to both nations when we share technologies that there’s trust in. The good news is we don’t see the aggressive posturing like we see in China. As a matter of fact, we see a very incredibly important strategic and tactical ally with India to resist countries like China who are autocracies, who believe in a Marxist theology,” he said.

“We need to make sure that we develop that relationship where there’s true trust, that we continue to realise that India is honest. They’re not trying to steal our technologies; they’re trying to share them. It’s okay to use your economic leverage to do that, and as long as we’re having an honest conversation, we can have a great conversation in the future,” McCormick said.

McCormick, a decorated veteran and emergency room physician, represents Georgia’s 6th Congressional district that has a sizeable Indian American population. He serves on the House Committee on Armed Services and House Foreign Affairs Committee.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Over two dozen US lawmakers have joined the bipartisan Congressional Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh and Jain American Caucus, its founder and Indian American Congressman Shri Thanedar has said.

Mr. Thanedar on Friday formally launched in the US Congress the caucus that aims to combat religious discrimination and promote religious freedom for Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains.

A congressional caucus is a group of members of the United States Congress that meet to pursue common legislative objectives.

“We are not merely congregating to initiate another caucus; we’re assembling to pioneer a movement—one that strives for understanding, inclusion, and affirmative policy actions,” Mr. Thanedar told reporters at a news conference here.

“A movement that says every faith, every culture, and every community has a place in America— the land of the free and the home of the brave. My name is Shri Thanedar. I am proof of America’s diversity in Congress,” he said.

He was flanked by a group of eminent Indian Americans who had gathered at the steps of the US Capitol from across the country.

“Today is significant for numerous reasons. To many of you, the launch of the Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, and Jain (HBSJ) American Congressional Caucus may seem like a formal procedure, but let me assure you, it is so much more,” he said.

It is a statement of commitment. A commitment to stand against religious discrimination, to propel the wheels of inclusion, and to cultivate a nation where diversity is not just tolerated but celebrated, Thanedar said.

“This caucus will create a platform to have the discourse, engage in action, dispel the misinformation and disinformation of our culture and society, to express religious freedom, protect our existence, and speak the truth about who we are by pushing back on hate and bigotry,” he said.

Thanedar noted that as many as 27 Congressmen from both the Republican and the Democratic parties have joined the latest caucuses of the US Congress.

“To illustrate the urgent need for this caucus, it’s important to put some numbers into context. We are not talking about abstract communities or conceptual problems. These are real issues affecting real people—our friends, our neighbours, and our constituents,” he said.

Approximately 3 million Hindus, 1.2 million Buddhists, 500,000 Sikhs, and 200,000 Jains enrich our nation’s cultural and spiritual life, he said.

About 1,000 Hindu temples, 1,000 Buddhist temples, 800 Sikh gurdwaras, and 100 Jain temples are spread across America, acting as centers for community development, philanthropy, and spiritual well-being, Thanedar said.

“So, when we speak about these communities, we are speaking about a substantial portion of our nation’s populace—a segment that contributes significantly to the American fabric yet often remains underrepresented or misunderstood,” he said.

Thanedar said HBSJ American Congressional Caucus aims to fulfill four fundamental objectives; combating religious discrimination, accurate representation and inclusion, addressing cultural misunderstandings and empowerment and well-being.

Romesh Japra, founder and chairman of Americans for Hindus described it as a momentous occasion.

There was a long felt need of the Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains in the country. The new caucus would help in raising the causes and protecting the interests of these minority communities in the US, Japra said.