ISKCON Sacks Kolkata VP Radharaman Das and Issues Strict Media Gag Order
The religious organization ISKCON has dismissed its Kolkata-based vice president, Radharaman Das, and issued a restrictive gag order. The disciplinary action follows his vocal remarks on various sensitive social and political issues, as well as several public disputes involving the organization's reputation.
Highlights
- •ISKCON has relieved its Kolkata VP Radharaman Das of all official responsibilities.
- •A strict gag order prohibits Das from speaking to media or public authorities.
- •The move follows controversial remarks on Bangladesh, Maneka Gandhi, and various public figures.
- •The organization maintains its stance despite previous support for mid-day meal initiatives.
The international religious organization ISKCON has officially removed its Kolkata-based vice president, Radharaman Das, from his position. Alongside his removal, the organization has imposed a strict gag order, prohibiting Radharaman Das from representing the group or making any statements to the media, government authorities, or in any public forum.
This organizational decision follows a series of public controversies and outspoken comments made by Radharaman Das. Among the primary reasons cited for this disciplinary action are his vocal remarks concerning the reported persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh and his commentary regarding Chinmoy Krishna Prabhu. Furthermore, the leadership move comes as ISKCON aims to manage its public image amidst various legal and social challenges.
Reasons Behind the ISKCON Leadership Change
The decision to relieve Radharaman Das of his duties involves several high-profile issues. Beyond the geopolitical commentary on Bangladesh, the former vice president had actively engaged in various disputes. This included issuing a legal notice in response to allegations made by Maneka Gandhi, who had previously claimed that the organization sells cows to butchers. Additionally, Radharaman Das filed a formal cyber complaint regarding derogatory remarks about ISKCON devotees made by comedian Surleen Kaur.
The organization also noted his public involvement in defending Sanatana Dharma against specific advocacy groups and his decision to share social media posts highlighting the 1976 New York Rathayatra and its connection to Donald Trump. These actions appear to have created friction within the administrative framework of ISKCON, leading to the current restrictive directives.
Prior to this development, Radharaman Das had publicly supported the decision by the BJP government in West Bengal to provide high-quality vegetarian meals instead of eggs in the mid-day meal scheme, a project for which ISKCON had been selected by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
In a formal statement shared on the platform X, Radharaman Das confirmed that he had been officially relieved of all responsibilities. He explicitly stated that he would abide by the directives and cease all interactions with journalists or public entities on behalf of the organization. He expressed gratitude for the support received over the years and offered prayers for the future progress of ISKCON, concluding his message with traditional religious salutations. The organization has yet to provide further details regarding a permanent successor for the vice president role in Kolkata, leaving the future representation of the regional branch under official internal review.
