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Journalism of Courage
Not caring for his party highcommand or Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati’s reaction, state BJP president Vinay Katiyar today vowed to go ahead with his Ambedkar yatra, without toning down his anti-Muslim rhetoric.
In an interview to The Indian Express, Katiyar said: ‘‘Far from diluting my utterances, I would speak louder, with more vigour. My head would be severed, rather than bent. I do not care who is benefited or damaged by my campaign. Let Mulayam Singh Yadav gain, if he does, or Mayawatiji lose, if she has to, but I will continue my yatra spreading the message of Babasaheb Ambedkar through the length and breadth of UP. Mayawatiji does not hold a patent on Ambedkar. If she thinks so, it is her mistake. I am a bhakt of Babasaheb. How can anyone stop me from propagating his views on cultural nationalism, Pakistan, Islam and terrorism?’’
Katiyar, a former Bajrang Dal chief, said: ‘‘Sardar Patel moved one step on the path of cultural nationalism by facilitating the construction of Somnath temple. We moved the next at Ayodhya. The third would be Kashi, fourth Mathura and the fifth terrorism. But, we can change the order and deal with terrorism first. The worship of Ram and Hanuman and a Kumbh bath are all manifestations of cultural nationalism.’’
Asked if the launch of his yatra from Kashi Vishwanath on December 28 signalled he was trying to put the shrine on the party agenda, he said: ‘‘Till Vinay Katiyar is alive, no one knows how many campaigns would get underway. I pay the house tax and the water bill for the so-called Idgah at Kashi. The status of Muslims is that of refugees. What do you think we should do if they act like thieves and robbers and claim proprietary rights?’’
As for the inconvenience he might cause to the BJP leadership through his anti-Muslim speeches, Katiyar said: ‘‘I do not consider the convenience or inconvenience. Let the coming generations realise that someone worked for the promotion of cultural nationalism.’’
