Members of Parliament (MP), cutting across party lines, on Wednesday, condemned attacks on Hindus and other minorities and arrest of Hindu Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh.

Union minister Giriraj Singh said the attack on Hindus in Bangladesh reflects that the interim government of that country is in the “clutches of fundamentalists” and sought the intervention of the United Nations in the matter.

Condemning the arrest of a Hindu leader in Bangladesh, he said such attacks are against humanity.

“The caretaker ‘Prime Minister’ of Bangladesh is in the clutches of fundamentalists. The way Hindus are being attacked is against humanity. The United Nations should intervene in this matter,” Singh told reporters in the Parliament complex. Bangladesh’s interim government is headed by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.

Singh said the targeting of Hindus and arrest of religious leaders shows that fundamentalists are dominating the Bangladesh interim government like in the case of Pakistan.

The minister was asked about the arrest of Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari in Bangladesh and the prevailing situation there. Bangladesh police had on Monday, arrested the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) monk from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport area in Dhaka while travelling to Chattogram.

India on Tuesday noted with “deep concern” the arrest and denial of bail to the Hindu leader, and urged authorities in the neighbouring country to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all other minority groups.

Several other MPs also condemned the attack on minorities in Bangladesh and sought the government’s intervention. TMC MP Saugata Roy also condemned the incident and said it is a matter of concern that Hindus are being subjected to atrocities.  “It should not happen. I condemn it. The government should actively intervene in the matter,” he said.

Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi said his party was worried over the situation in Bangladesh. BJP leader Samik Bhattacharya said it is unfortunate that the country is silent over atrocities being committed against minorities in Bangladesh.

“Hindus, Buddhists, Chakmas, and members of other religious and ethnic groups are being tortured in Bangladesh. Many temples and other religious places have been destroyed. Women are being married off forcefully. Illegal and forceful conversions are happening... All of this is happening but it is unfortunate that the entire country is silent on this issue,” Bhattacharya said.

The Congress expressed deep concern over the “atmosphere of insecurity” being faced by religious minorities in Bangladesh and the arrest of Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das.

In a statement, Chairman of the party’s Media and Publicity Department Pawan Khera said, “The Indian National Congress expects the government of India to prevail upon the Bangladesh government to take necessary steps and ensure security of life and property of minorities in the country”.

“The Indian National Congress expresses its deep concern at the atmosphere of insecurity being faced by religious minorities in Bangladesh. The arrest of the ISCKON monk is the latest example,” he said.

A lawyer was killed on Tuesday during clashes between security personnel and followers of Das, who was denied bail and sent to jail by a court in the port city of Chattogram in Bangladesh in a sedition case.

Das, the spokesperson for Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote, was arrested from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka a day earlier.