VHP to fight for Kashi and Mathura but not with BJP

NAGPUR, January 9: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has decided to vigorously implement a five-point Hindutva agenda, which, among other things, li...

NAGPUR, January 9: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has decided to vigorously implement a five-point Hindutva agenda, which, among other things, lists `liberation’ of Mathura and Kashi temples high on priority. And though the VHP’s working president Ashok Singhal admitted that the Parishad differs with the BJP on the issue of the two temples, he hastened to add that there won’t be any conflict between the two arms of the Sangh Parivar in this regard.

Talking to media persons, Singhal, who was here to attend the inaugural ceremony of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s Vidarbha-level Mahashibir, said the Parishad’s role is not restricted merely to the issue of construction of a temple at Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya. The five-point agenda is aimed at showing that Hindus will not take things lying down. Since they constitute a vast majority, it is but natural that they should play a more assertive role, he opined.

The VHP’s agenda includes a nation-wide campaign for banning slaughter of cow and progeny and export of meat, restoring autonomy of temples taken over by State Governments, liberation of Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura and Kashi Vishweshwar temple in Varanasi, making `forcible conversions’ a penal offence and opposition to the construction of Tehri dam, which, he alleged, is aimed at impounding the holy Ganga river.

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For implementation of this agenda and to mark an end of the `imposed composite culture’, the VHP plans to recruit 10,000 Hindu Missionaries in next three years and launch at least 1 lakh social service projects in the country. In addition, special drives would be conducted in association with other arms of the Sangh Parivar.

Elaborating the points in his agenda, Singhal said the Ayodhya issue received more attention because of its political fall-out. More than the VHP or BJP, the heads of Hindu sects made Ayodhya temple a national issue. VHP and BJP only joined the movement to promote the cause of Hindutva, he clarified.

The VHP will now take up the issue of restoration autonomy to temples taken over by state governments. The offerings at these temples, taken together, run into thousands of crore. The amount is being misused by bureaucrats and politicians running the governments, he said and demanded that the temple managements should be handed over to priests.

The VHP, Singhal said, would also take a hard stand on the issue of `forcible conversions’. Alleging that huge funds totalling over Rs 20,000 crore are being routed through smugglers for conversions, he said it is surprising that government officers are aware of the sources from where this money is coming but have not been able to trace the chain through which it is being used for conversions.