VHP 'Ram Barat' to pass through Bihar before polls :
New Delhi, Nov 3 [2004] : In an apparent bid to woo Hindu voters ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, a VHP-backed outfit is organising a 'Ram Barat' (wedding procession of Lord Ram) early December which would traverse a major portion of the state before concluding in neighbouring Nepal.
Organised by the Dharmayatra Mahasangh, the 'barat' would kickstart from Ayodhya on December eight and pass through Varanasi, Ara, Buxar, Patna, Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Benimatti, Darbhanga and Oomgaon before reaching Janakpur in Nepal, where the marriage between Ram and Sita is believed to have taken place.
"It is aimed at creating awareness and strengthening unity, particularly in the wake of terrorist activities taking place along the sensitive Indo-Nepal border", VHP Senior Vice-President Acharya Giriraj Kishore told reporters here.
Around 500 people, including Ram Janambhoomi Nyas Chief Mahant Nritya Gopal Dass, would be taking part in the procession which would also have chariots of religious leaders besides tableaux depicting characters from the Ramayana, he said.
Kishore said VHP leaders at their just-concluded training programme in Gujarat chalked out a year-long programme including a recruitment drive for Bajrang Dal, formation of various committees and celebration of birthdays of Ram, Krishna, Guru Nanak, Mahavir Jain and others. PTI
November 04, 2004
India: VHP urges Hindus to follow 'eight sons' norm
[Publish Date : 11/2/2004 6:11:00 PM Source : Indo-Asian News Service]
VHP urges Hindus to follow 'eight sons' norm
Hardline Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Sunday urged Hindus to follow the 'eight sons' norm to beat Muslims in the numbers' race because they did not care to control their population.
"The options before us are clear: either let their (Muslim's) population grow and India will become an Islamic nation. Or, Hindus should actively adopt the policy of population increase taking a cue from our scriptures which bless a person with 'ashta putro bhava' (beget eight sons)," said Pravin Togadia, VHP international secretary.
"There is, however, a third way, which is that the government should bring in a legislation forcing two-child norm and monogamy for all, including Muslims," Togadia told a gathering of full-time activists of the organisation.
The firebrand Hindutva leader was addressing the ongoing nine-day workshop at this temple town, about 80 km from state's principal city of Ahmedabad, attended by some 600-odd full-time activists from across the country.
Togadia was referring to the recent controversy over census figures that gave the impression that the Muslim population rose by 36 percent during 1991-2001 compared to 16 percent for Hindus.
Addressing the first open session of the workshop, he said the VHP's ideological ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), had lost the trust of the people.
VHP international working president Ashok Singhal, too, did not mince his words.
"We want to build temples at all the three (controversial) places, Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura. The BJP leaders used to request us to drop the last two. We said, we can drop the BJP, but not Kashi and Mathura," he told the gathering.
Naming Islam, Christianity, secularism and Marxism as four "religions" out to harm Hindus, Togadia criticised first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, while praising first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, whose 130th birth anniversary was celebrated Sunday.
"Nehru created all problems. He used to talk of 'nationalist Muslim', but Sardar rightly pointed out that the only nationalist Muslim in the country was Nehru.
"And, then, we have this other gentleman who wishes to become a nationalist Muslim. Vajpayee never had faith in the concept of Hindu Rashtra. He had some talents, nice orator he was, but we want the kind of leader who would have his base in the Hindu society."
Among the decisions taken at the ongoing workshop is the project to celebrate across the country "Ram Mahotsava" during the first nine days of Chaitra (in April) every year on the lines of popular religious festivals after Ganesha and Durga.
VHP's associate Bajarang Dal has decided to enroll two million new members in a year.
--Indo-Asian News Service
VHP urges Hindus to follow 'eight sons' norm
Hardline Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Sunday urged Hindus to follow the 'eight sons' norm to beat Muslims in the numbers' race because they did not care to control their population.
"The options before us are clear: either let their (Muslim's) population grow and India will become an Islamic nation. Or, Hindus should actively adopt the policy of population increase taking a cue from our scriptures which bless a person with 'ashta putro bhava' (beget eight sons)," said Pravin Togadia, VHP international secretary.
"There is, however, a third way, which is that the government should bring in a legislation forcing two-child norm and monogamy for all, including Muslims," Togadia told a gathering of full-time activists of the organisation.
The firebrand Hindutva leader was addressing the ongoing nine-day workshop at this temple town, about 80 km from state's principal city of Ahmedabad, attended by some 600-odd full-time activists from across the country.
Togadia was referring to the recent controversy over census figures that gave the impression that the Muslim population rose by 36 percent during 1991-2001 compared to 16 percent for Hindus.
Addressing the first open session of the workshop, he said the VHP's ideological ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), had lost the trust of the people.
VHP international working president Ashok Singhal, too, did not mince his words.
"We want to build temples at all the three (controversial) places, Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura. The BJP leaders used to request us to drop the last two. We said, we can drop the BJP, but not Kashi and Mathura," he told the gathering.
Naming Islam, Christianity, secularism and Marxism as four "religions" out to harm Hindus, Togadia criticised first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, while praising first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, whose 130th birth anniversary was celebrated Sunday.
"Nehru created all problems. He used to talk of 'nationalist Muslim', but Sardar rightly pointed out that the only nationalist Muslim in the country was Nehru.
"And, then, we have this other gentleman who wishes to become a nationalist Muslim. Vajpayee never had faith in the concept of Hindu Rashtra. He had some talents, nice orator he was, but we want the kind of leader who would have his base in the Hindu society."
Among the decisions taken at the ongoing workshop is the project to celebrate across the country "Ram Mahotsava" during the first nine days of Chaitra (in April) every year on the lines of popular religious festivals after Ganesha and Durga.
VHP's associate Bajarang Dal has decided to enroll two million new members in a year.
--Indo-Asian News Service
October 04, 2004
RSS Operation Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram has bash
[The Economic Times _ October 4, 2004
URL: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/872507.cms ]
RSS-backed Vanvasi NGO comes out of woods
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ MONDAY, OCTOBER 04, 2004 02:38:57 AM ]
NEW DELHI: The Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, the RSS-backed voluntary organisation engaged in furthering the Sangh’s attempts to create a pan-Hindu identity by getting the tribals within its fold, has so far stayed away from public glare, preferring to work silently towards its cause.
In a major shift in strategy, the VKA has now has decided to go public with its operations — its aims, ahievements and the problems encountered by its members and activists as they go about sensitising tribals about their socio-cultural and economic identity and their rights.
The RSS-backed NGO, which commenced its activities from Jashpur in Chhattisgarh in 1952, is holding a five-day-long conference here to mark the conclusion of its golden ju[blilee celebrations.
Billed as “the biggest-ever event of its kind held in the country”, the conference, which gets underway on October 6, is expected to attract representatives from some 250 tribes and 200 tribal districts spread over 27 states and union territories, including all the north-eastern states.
“Of the 690 tribes inhabiting the country, we have managed to establish contact with 380,” claims VKA organising secretary Gunwant Singh Kothari, adding, “Barring Lakshadweep, Ladakh, Goa and Pondicherry, we have been successful in striking roots in all the states and UTs.”
The conference, according to VKA join general-secretary Kripa Prasad Singh, is likely to see some 3000 tribal representatives coming together to discuss ways to safeguard their traditions and cultural heritage and also the problems in their socio-economic development.
The organisation, which works with the slogan “loss of culture is loss of identity”, has embarked on a major exercise to help the tribals preserve their cultural identities. “Government-sponsored educational programmes and the activities of Christian missionaries have induced some sort of a inferiority complex among the tribals about their cultural background,” alleges Mr Dwarkacharya, the VKA’s publicity chief.
In an attempt to instil a “sense a sense of belonging and pride about their heritage”, the VKA has compiled a list of historical figures who left an indelible mark in their struggle against foreign rule. These include Birsa Munda, Siddho-Kanhu, Queen Durgawati, Punja Bhil, Alluri Sitaram Raju, Ropuilyani, Begra Bhil, Veer Tantia Bheel, Talom Rukbo, Kartik Oraon and Rani Gaidinalyu.
The VKA has been concerned with the impact of the economic development policies on their lives. “The geographical distance and the lack of means of communication have ensured that the tribals have been deprived of their benefits,” argues Mr Kothari.
During the course of their work, the VKA activists have had several run-ins with the Naxalites in states such as Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Chattisgarh and the insurgents in the north-east.
“In both the cases, their directions are very clear — we can carry on with our work only in the peripheral areas, but not in the core area of their spheres of influence,” he says, adding, “We have to be very cautious. We don’t want any conflict with them.”
URL: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/872507.cms ]
RSS-backed Vanvasi NGO comes out of woods
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ MONDAY, OCTOBER 04, 2004 02:38:57 AM ]
NEW DELHI: The Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, the RSS-backed voluntary organisation engaged in furthering the Sangh’s attempts to create a pan-Hindu identity by getting the tribals within its fold, has so far stayed away from public glare, preferring to work silently towards its cause.
In a major shift in strategy, the VKA has now has decided to go public with its operations — its aims, ahievements and the problems encountered by its members and activists as they go about sensitising tribals about their socio-cultural and economic identity and their rights.
The RSS-backed NGO, which commenced its activities from Jashpur in Chhattisgarh in 1952, is holding a five-day-long conference here to mark the conclusion of its golden ju[blilee celebrations.
Billed as “the biggest-ever event of its kind held in the country”, the conference, which gets underway on October 6, is expected to attract representatives from some 250 tribes and 200 tribal districts spread over 27 states and union territories, including all the north-eastern states.
“Of the 690 tribes inhabiting the country, we have managed to establish contact with 380,” claims VKA organising secretary Gunwant Singh Kothari, adding, “Barring Lakshadweep, Ladakh, Goa and Pondicherry, we have been successful in striking roots in all the states and UTs.”
The conference, according to VKA join general-secretary Kripa Prasad Singh, is likely to see some 3000 tribal representatives coming together to discuss ways to safeguard their traditions and cultural heritage and also the problems in their socio-economic development.
The organisation, which works with the slogan “loss of culture is loss of identity”, has embarked on a major exercise to help the tribals preserve their cultural identities. “Government-sponsored educational programmes and the activities of Christian missionaries have induced some sort of a inferiority complex among the tribals about their cultural background,” alleges Mr Dwarkacharya, the VKA’s publicity chief.
In an attempt to instil a “sense a sense of belonging and pride about their heritage”, the VKA has compiled a list of historical figures who left an indelible mark in their struggle against foreign rule. These include Birsa Munda, Siddho-Kanhu, Queen Durgawati, Punja Bhil, Alluri Sitaram Raju, Ropuilyani, Begra Bhil, Veer Tantia Bheel, Talom Rukbo, Kartik Oraon and Rani Gaidinalyu.
The VKA has been concerned with the impact of the economic development policies on their lives. “The geographical distance and the lack of means of communication have ensured that the tribals have been deprived of their benefits,” argues Mr Kothari.
During the course of their work, the VKA activists have had several run-ins with the Naxalites in states such as Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Chattisgarh and the insurgents in the north-east.
“In both the cases, their directions are very clear — we can carry on with our work only in the peripheral areas, but not in the core area of their spheres of influence,” he says, adding, “We have to be very cautious. We don’t want any conflict with them.”
September 27, 2004
RSS men held for attacking missionaries
(The Times of India)
RSS men held for attacking missionaries
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2004 07:00:01 AM ]
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kozhikode police have detained 14 RSS-BJP sympathisers in connection with the attack on missionaries of charity in a Mampizhakad tribal colony on Saturday. Nine were injured.
The members of "Sneh Bhavan", Mother Teresa's mission had gone to supply food card and medicine in the colony when an armed gang attacked them on the charge of "converting gullible tribals". The Bhavan superior said that they had not converted anyone nor it was their intention.
Meanwhile, BJP and RSS leaders have denied they have any link in the attack.
RSS men held for attacking missionaries
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2004 07:00:01 AM ]
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kozhikode police have detained 14 RSS-BJP sympathisers in connection with the attack on missionaries of charity in a Mampizhakad tribal colony on Saturday. Nine were injured.
The members of "Sneh Bhavan", Mother Teresa's mission had gone to supply food card and medicine in the colony when an armed gang attacked them on the charge of "converting gullible tribals". The Bhavan superior said that they had not converted anyone nor it was their intention.
Meanwhile, BJP and RSS leaders have denied they have any link in the attack.
September 09, 2004
VHP to set up Security Committees
[The Times of India - September 9, 2004 ]
VHP to set up Security Committees
PTI[ THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 09, 2004 05:53:19 PM ]
VAIKOM (Kerala): Viswa Hindu Parishad would constitute "security committees" for protecting the interests of the Hindu community, which it claimed, was becoming a minority in the country, its national secretary Y Raghavalu said on Thursday.
Talking to reporters here, Raghavalu cited the religion census, which showed a decline in Hindu population in last ten years and said at present there were about 50,000 security committees in the country.
The committees would be doubled by 2007, he said adding that the committees would draw the attention of the public on the dangerousness of population increase, he said.
He demanded the Centre to implemet a Common Civil Code, ban on conversion and infiltration.
VHP to set up Security Committees
PTI[ THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 09, 2004 05:53:19 PM ]
VAIKOM (Kerala): Viswa Hindu Parishad would constitute "security committees" for protecting the interests of the Hindu community, which it claimed, was becoming a minority in the country, its national secretary Y Raghavalu said on Thursday.
Talking to reporters here, Raghavalu cited the religion census, which showed a decline in Hindu population in last ten years and said at present there were about 50,000 security committees in the country.
The committees would be doubled by 2007, he said adding that the committees would draw the attention of the public on the dangerousness of population increase, he said.
He demanded the Centre to implemet a Common Civil Code, ban on conversion and infiltration.
September 06, 2004
VHP threatens to demolish Afzal Khan's tomb in Satara : HindustanTimes.com
VHP threatens to demolish Afzal Khan's tomb in Satara : HindustanTimes.com
Press Trust of India
Pune, September 5
VHP on Sunday threatened that it would "demolish" Afzal memorial at Pratapgarh Fort in Satara district on September 12, if Maharashtra Government failed to remove it.
"We had given an ultimatum to the state Government that if it did not demolish the objectionable construction then the job would be done by VHP and Bajrang Dal activists", VHP International general secretary Praveen Togadia told reporters at Pune.
"Pratapgarh fort was a heritage that belonged to Chhatrapati Shivaji and the unlawful construction at the tomb of a traitor was nothing but an insult to every nationalist," the VHP leader said.
Togadia also attacked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his delayed pronouncement that Veer Savarkar was a freedom fighter.
Press Trust of India
Pune, September 5
VHP on Sunday threatened that it would "demolish" Afzal memorial at Pratapgarh Fort in Satara district on September 12, if Maharashtra Government failed to remove it.
"We had given an ultimatum to the state Government that if it did not demolish the objectionable construction then the job would be done by VHP and Bajrang Dal activists", VHP International general secretary Praveen Togadia told reporters at Pune.
"Pratapgarh fort was a heritage that belonged to Chhatrapati Shivaji and the unlawful construction at the tomb of a traitor was nothing but an insult to every nationalist," the VHP leader said.
Togadia also attacked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his delayed pronouncement that Veer Savarkar was a freedom fighter.
September 01, 2004
VHP now adopts Lord Krishna : Krishna 'raths' coming soon to your nearest city
(The Times of India - September 1, 2004)
VHP now adopts Lord Krishna
SRAWAN SHUKLA
LUCKNOW: In a bid to keep the temple issue alive and take the Hindutva to tribal and backward areas, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) will hold 'road shows' by organising 'rath yatras' across the country, particularly in trouble-torn northeast.
About two-dozen modern Ram-Krishna 'raths', equipped with latest audio-video gizmos, are being readied to roll out by October-end in Vansthali (tribal) and backward areas of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura, Manipur, Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and other states.
The saffron-hued Ram-Krishna ' raths ' would carry verses from ' Ramayana ' and ' Mahabharat ' and depict different aspects of Ram and Krishna's lives to propagate Hindutva, particularly in tribal areas.
For the first time the VHP would also use Krishna for its Hindutva plank. All ' raths ' will also carry cut-outs of Krishna and sketches from ' Mahabharat ', exhorting tribals to fight another battle for saving their cultural heritage.
With Janmashtami round the corner, the VHP is all set to use the occasion for setting the tone for the Ram-Krishna Rath Yatra across the country. A camp is underway in Karsewakpuram in Ayodhya to impart training to VHP leaders and workers who would accompany the ' rath '.
The VHP has also placed orders for printing pamphlets and booklets depicting Ram and Krishna as role models for every Hindu. Special films on both the Hindu gods would be shown on big screens erected on every ' rath '.
The VHP discreetly admits that their main aim is to reach out to people in those areas which were not touched earlier. "Next two years are crucial to the VHP as we are in the process of increasing our cadre and support base to strengthen the organisation. Naturally, our plan is to take the organisation to areas which were never penetrated before," confided a senior VHP leader to TOI.
Besides the Ram-Krishna ' katha yatra ', the VHP is also concentrating on opening more ' ekal vidhyalayas ' in tribal and backwards areas. 'Catch them young' seems to be the new VHP slogan. The organisation has set up a separate wing, headed by VHP leader Sita Ram Agarwal, to use primary education as a tool to administer the religious dose at a tender age.
"If 'madarsas' can do it then what's the harm in teaching Hindu religion to youngsters at the primary level in our school," says the senior leader.
The VHP has about 21,000 ' ekal vidyalayas ' in the country. Managed by Bharat Shiksha Parishad, it has planned to open 25,000 more such schools to make Hindutva a way of life.
VHP now adopts Lord Krishna
SRAWAN SHUKLA
LUCKNOW: In a bid to keep the temple issue alive and take the Hindutva to tribal and backward areas, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) will hold 'road shows' by organising 'rath yatras' across the country, particularly in trouble-torn northeast.
About two-dozen modern Ram-Krishna 'raths', equipped with latest audio-video gizmos, are being readied to roll out by October-end in Vansthali (tribal) and backward areas of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura, Manipur, Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and other states.
The saffron-hued Ram-Krishna ' raths ' would carry verses from ' Ramayana ' and ' Mahabharat ' and depict different aspects of Ram and Krishna's lives to propagate Hindutva, particularly in tribal areas.
For the first time the VHP would also use Krishna for its Hindutva plank. All ' raths ' will also carry cut-outs of Krishna and sketches from ' Mahabharat ', exhorting tribals to fight another battle for saving their cultural heritage.
With Janmashtami round the corner, the VHP is all set to use the occasion for setting the tone for the Ram-Krishna Rath Yatra across the country. A camp is underway in Karsewakpuram in Ayodhya to impart training to VHP leaders and workers who would accompany the ' rath '.
The VHP has also placed orders for printing pamphlets and booklets depicting Ram and Krishna as role models for every Hindu. Special films on both the Hindu gods would be shown on big screens erected on every ' rath '.
The VHP discreetly admits that their main aim is to reach out to people in those areas which were not touched earlier. "Next two years are crucial to the VHP as we are in the process of increasing our cadre and support base to strengthen the organisation. Naturally, our plan is to take the organisation to areas which were never penetrated before," confided a senior VHP leader to TOI.
Besides the Ram-Krishna ' katha yatra ', the VHP is also concentrating on opening more ' ekal vidhyalayas ' in tribal and backwards areas. 'Catch them young' seems to be the new VHP slogan. The organisation has set up a separate wing, headed by VHP leader Sita Ram Agarwal, to use primary education as a tool to administer the religious dose at a tender age.
"If 'madarsas' can do it then what's the harm in teaching Hindu religion to youngsters at the primary level in our school," says the senior leader.
The VHP has about 21,000 ' ekal vidyalayas ' in the country. Managed by Bharat Shiksha Parishad, it has planned to open 25,000 more such schools to make Hindutva a way of life.
August 27, 2004
Sing Vande Mataram in Bombay schools or leave India: Shiv Sena
Mid-Day - August 27, 2004
URL: http://web.mid-day.com/news/city/2004/august/90931.htm
Sing Vande Mataram or leave India: Sena
By: PTI
August 26, 2004
Adopting a tough posture over Vande Mataram, the Shiv Sena today said those refusing to sing the prayer-song for the motherland have no right to stay in this country.
Vande Mataram is our national pride those refusing to sing it have no right to stay in this country, Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray said.
The Sena leaders reaction came when his attention was drawn to Raza Academy, a minority organisation, opposing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's decision to make rendering of Vande Mataram compulsory in all civic schools across the metropolis.
The Sena-BJP ruled BMC yesterday decided to make singing of the song compulsory in all civic schools in the city.
"If you can not pay obeisance to our nation, then you do not have any right to stay here," Thackeray said and adopting an aggressive stance asked if "we are not supposed to sing Vande Mataram, then are we expected to pay respect to Dawood Ibrahim."
The Sena leader strongly supported the BMC, ruled by the saffron combine, to make compulsory singing of Vande Mataram in civic schools.
URL: http://web.mid-day.com/news/city/2004/august/90931.htm
Sing Vande Mataram or leave India: Sena
By: PTI
August 26, 2004
Adopting a tough posture over Vande Mataram, the Shiv Sena today said those refusing to sing the prayer-song for the motherland have no right to stay in this country.
Vande Mataram is our national pride those refusing to sing it have no right to stay in this country, Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray said.
The Sena leaders reaction came when his attention was drawn to Raza Academy, a minority organisation, opposing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's decision to make rendering of Vande Mataram compulsory in all civic schools across the metropolis.
The Sena-BJP ruled BMC yesterday decided to make singing of the song compulsory in all civic schools in the city.
"If you can not pay obeisance to our nation, then you do not have any right to stay here," Thackeray said and adopting an aggressive stance asked if "we are not supposed to sing Vande Mataram, then are we expected to pay respect to Dawood Ibrahim."
The Sena leader strongly supported the BMC, ruled by the saffron combine, to make compulsory singing of Vande Mataram in civic schools.
August 22, 2004
Sangh Swayamsevaks engaged in flood relief
Organiser - August 22, 2004 | Page: 20/36
Sangh Samachar
One thousand teams of Sangh Swayamsevaks engaged in flood relief
Hindusthan Samachar
Over one thousand teams of Sangh Swayamsevaks belonging to different RSS-associated organisations like Sewa Bharati, National Medicos’ Organisation, Bharat Vikas Parishad, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, Rashtra Sevika Samiti, ABVP, Vidya Bharati, etc. are engaged in flood relief activities right from the first day when floods inundated Assam and Bihar.
In the first phase of relief, the Swayamsevaks rescued the affected people and provided them with meals, drinking water, milk for children, clothes and utensils. With the exception of two districts, the floods have hit 28 districts of Assam, 17 of which are affected severely. In the second phase, the Swayamsevaks collected relief material worth lakhs of rupees from the local resources and helped the flood victims. They concentrated more on the villages where the government or non-governmental organisations have failed to reach.
In the third phase, they concentrated on medical relief, as there is a possibility that the flood-hit areas might be caught in the grip of water-borne diseases which could become an epidemic. Besides the local help, the Swayamsevaks have also received medicines from Gujarat, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.
The Sangh-associated organ-isations have been working under the banner of Sewa Bharati. They have formed several teams of doctors at various districts and other prominent places. Every team organises two or three camps daily in the affected areas. In Guwahati alone, six teams of 40 doctors have been formed, which have been working under the supervision of Dr Dilip Sarkar, a retired doctor of Guwahati Medical College and vice president of National Medicos Organisation. Dr Sarkar has appealed to medical professionals of the country to assist in the relief measures. Several teams of Arogya Rakshak are also working under the banner of Sewa Bharati. They include teams in Golaghat, eight in Hojoi, two in Kampur, four in Bilasipara, three in Golokganj, four in Barpeta, three in Nalbari, six in Mangaldoi, four in Tezpur and 35 in Silchar.
Sangh Samachar
One thousand teams of Sangh Swayamsevaks engaged in flood relief
Hindusthan Samachar
Over one thousand teams of Sangh Swayamsevaks belonging to different RSS-associated organisations like Sewa Bharati, National Medicos’ Organisation, Bharat Vikas Parishad, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, Rashtra Sevika Samiti, ABVP, Vidya Bharati, etc. are engaged in flood relief activities right from the first day when floods inundated Assam and Bihar.
In the first phase of relief, the Swayamsevaks rescued the affected people and provided them with meals, drinking water, milk for children, clothes and utensils. With the exception of two districts, the floods have hit 28 districts of Assam, 17 of which are affected severely. In the second phase, the Swayamsevaks collected relief material worth lakhs of rupees from the local resources and helped the flood victims. They concentrated more on the villages where the government or non-governmental organisations have failed to reach.
In the third phase, they concentrated on medical relief, as there is a possibility that the flood-hit areas might be caught in the grip of water-borne diseases which could become an epidemic. Besides the local help, the Swayamsevaks have also received medicines from Gujarat, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.
The Sangh-associated organ-isations have been working under the banner of Sewa Bharati. They have formed several teams of doctors at various districts and other prominent places. Every team organises two or three camps daily in the affected areas. In Guwahati alone, six teams of 40 doctors have been formed, which have been working under the supervision of Dr Dilip Sarkar, a retired doctor of Guwahati Medical College and vice president of National Medicos Organisation. Dr Sarkar has appealed to medical professionals of the country to assist in the relief measures. Several teams of Arogya Rakshak are also working under the banner of Sewa Bharati. They include teams in Golaghat, eight in Hojoi, two in Kampur, four in Bilasipara, three in Golokganj, four in Barpeta, three in Nalbari, six in Mangaldoi, four in Tezpur and 35 in Silchar.
August 19, 2004
Sena to train cadre in trident-handling
The Indian Express - August 19, 2004
Sena to train cadre in trident-handling
Aims at removing ‘hurdles’ in the path of construction of Ram Temple
Express News Service
Lucknow, August 18: SHIV Sena has decided to train its volnuteers in “effective way of trishul-handling” for “self-defence” purposes so that they can face all the “hurdles coming in the way of construction of Ram temple”.
The training will start with trishul pujan that will be held all over the state at the all district units of Shiv Sena on August 23.
During the pujan, Shiv Sainiks will impart trishul training to thousands of volunteers across the state. Vijay Tiwari, chief of party’s state unit, has issued directives to all the district units in this regard.
His deputy Ajay Katiyar said during the pujan, the Shiv Sainiks will pray to God to give them strength to over come all hurdles and face bravely those who are “creating obstructions” on their way in building the temple.
Katiyar said that through trishul pujan programme, Sena wants to convey the message to the public that “there is a bunch of politicains and few groups of minorities who do not want the temple to take shape.
Even the government of the country was manipulating the innocent public by discribing the site of temple in Ayodhya to be in dispute.”
Lashing out at the present as well as the privious governments at the Centre, he said that all the governments had unnecessarily created controversies regarding Ram Janmabhoomi and thereby entangling the issue in a legal battle.
“But this will adversely affect their own future,” he warned all the parties who ruled at the Centre, including the BJP.
Katiyar informed that after the trishul training programme, party volunteers would hold a sankalp yagya in Varanasi in September.
Sena to train cadre in trident-handling
Aims at removing ‘hurdles’ in the path of construction of Ram Temple
Express News Service
Lucknow, August 18: SHIV Sena has decided to train its volnuteers in “effective way of trishul-handling” for “self-defence” purposes so that they can face all the “hurdles coming in the way of construction of Ram temple”.
The training will start with trishul pujan that will be held all over the state at the all district units of Shiv Sena on August 23.
During the pujan, Shiv Sainiks will impart trishul training to thousands of volunteers across the state. Vijay Tiwari, chief of party’s state unit, has issued directives to all the district units in this regard.
His deputy Ajay Katiyar said during the pujan, the Shiv Sainiks will pray to God to give them strength to over come all hurdles and face bravely those who are “creating obstructions” on their way in building the temple.
Katiyar said that through trishul pujan programme, Sena wants to convey the message to the public that “there is a bunch of politicains and few groups of minorities who do not want the temple to take shape.
Even the government of the country was manipulating the innocent public by discribing the site of temple in Ayodhya to be in dispute.”
Lashing out at the present as well as the privious governments at the Centre, he said that all the governments had unnecessarily created controversies regarding Ram Janmabhoomi and thereby entangling the issue in a legal battle.
“But this will adversely affect their own future,” he warned all the parties who ruled at the Centre, including the BJP.
Katiyar informed that after the trishul training programme, party volunteers would hold a sankalp yagya in Varanasi in September.
August 18, 2004
ABVP stones Professor Geelani’s car in JNU
Indian Express - August 18, 2004
ABVP stones Geelani’s car in JNU
Moved to a safe place after protests, professor returns later to make speech at hostel.
Prarthna Gahilote
New Delhi, August 17: AFTER two hours of drama that rocked the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus on Tuesday night, Professor S. A. R. Geelani returned to address the public meeting he had been driven away from earlier in the evening.
Geelani, who had arrived at the Sutlej hostel at 9.30 pm to address a public meeting , had to be taken to a safe place on the campus after over 100 Akhil Bharitya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP) activists gheraoed his car and pelted stones, forcing him to drive away.
For two hours, the ABVP staged a dharna outside the hostel. They refused to let the organisers — the All India Democratic Students Union and the Students Federation of India (SFI) — bring Geelani back to speak at the hostel.
Geelani had been invited to JNU, in his first public meeting since he was acquitted by the Delhi High Court in October 2003 in the Parliament attack case, to speak on the ‘Question of Political Prisoners in a Democracy’. An exhibition based on Geelani’s trial, called Lies of Our Times is also being held at JNU.
At 11.30 pm Geelani finally made it back to the Sutlej hostel to speak to students. Geelani barely got 10 minutes to speak to students about issues pertaining to Kashmir and national security. He had to be escorted out by a human chain.
Nandita Haksar from the All India Geelani Defence Committee, who had accompanied Geelani to the university said, ‘‘This is absolutely undemocartic. We are ready to speak to the ABVP if they have an issue over this public meeting, but stopping Professor Geelani from entering the hostel and addressing the students is not done.’’
Haksar added, ‘‘This is our nation too and that is what brings us together. JNU was the first place to support the release of political prisoners. What is happening now?’’
DSU General Secretary Arvind Radhakrishnan called the demonstration ridiculous. “Professor Geelani is a free man and has every right to express his views. The exhibition on his trial has now been on for a day which the ABVP tried to stop but did not manage,” he said.
NSUI’s Mohammad Zahid-ul-Haq said the ABVP was not respecting the law of the land when it opposes Geelani’s talk. “They are politicising the issue,” he said.
However, ABVP’s vice president Rituraj said ‘‘Geelani a terrorist. Calling him here is a deliberate attempt to disrupt the paeceful atmosphere in an educational institution. It is our right to stop these kinds of things.’’
ABVP stones Geelani’s car in JNU
Moved to a safe place after protests, professor returns later to make speech at hostel.
Prarthna Gahilote
New Delhi, August 17: AFTER two hours of drama that rocked the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus on Tuesday night, Professor S. A. R. Geelani returned to address the public meeting he had been driven away from earlier in the evening.
Geelani, who had arrived at the Sutlej hostel at 9.30 pm to address a public meeting , had to be taken to a safe place on the campus after over 100 Akhil Bharitya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP) activists gheraoed his car and pelted stones, forcing him to drive away.
For two hours, the ABVP staged a dharna outside the hostel. They refused to let the organisers — the All India Democratic Students Union and the Students Federation of India (SFI) — bring Geelani back to speak at the hostel.
Geelani had been invited to JNU, in his first public meeting since he was acquitted by the Delhi High Court in October 2003 in the Parliament attack case, to speak on the ‘Question of Political Prisoners in a Democracy’. An exhibition based on Geelani’s trial, called Lies of Our Times is also being held at JNU.
At 11.30 pm Geelani finally made it back to the Sutlej hostel to speak to students. Geelani barely got 10 minutes to speak to students about issues pertaining to Kashmir and national security. He had to be escorted out by a human chain.
Nandita Haksar from the All India Geelani Defence Committee, who had accompanied Geelani to the university said, ‘‘This is absolutely undemocartic. We are ready to speak to the ABVP if they have an issue over this public meeting, but stopping Professor Geelani from entering the hostel and addressing the students is not done.’’
Haksar added, ‘‘This is our nation too and that is what brings us together. JNU was the first place to support the release of political prisoners. What is happening now?’’
DSU General Secretary Arvind Radhakrishnan called the demonstration ridiculous. “Professor Geelani is a free man and has every right to express his views. The exhibition on his trial has now been on for a day which the ABVP tried to stop but did not manage,” he said.
NSUI’s Mohammad Zahid-ul-Haq said the ABVP was not respecting the law of the land when it opposes Geelani’s talk. “They are politicising the issue,” he said.
However, ABVP’s vice president Rituraj said ‘‘Geelani a terrorist. Calling him here is a deliberate attempt to disrupt the paeceful atmosphere in an educational institution. It is our right to stop these kinds of things.’’
Shiv Sena to have trishul distribution in New Delhi
Source URL: http://www.webindia123.com/news/states.asp?state=ES14%2CDelhi&count=5&action=fullstory&n_date=ES14%2CDelhi8%2F19%2F20045
Delhi
Shiv Sena to give trishul diksha in the capital
New Delhi, Aug 17 [2004] The Shiv Sena will soon distribute 'trishuls' (tridents) in the capital, it was announced today.
'Trishul diksha' will be given to the members of the Shiv Sena and other Hindu social organisations at a function, the date of which will be decided after getting clearance from Sena chief Bal Thackeray, Sena Delhi unit leader Abhimanyu Gulati said.
''When the Sikhs can keep 'kripan' for protection, which can't Shiv Saniks keep trishul, which is a symbol of Shiva,'' he asked.
He said since ''trishul'' represents the power of Shiva and Durga, it would be an insult to the Gods and Goddesses to misuse it.
Delhi
Shiv Sena to give trishul diksha in the capital
New Delhi, Aug 17 [2004] The Shiv Sena will soon distribute 'trishuls' (tridents) in the capital, it was announced today.
'Trishul diksha' will be given to the members of the Shiv Sena and other Hindu social organisations at a function, the date of which will be decided after getting clearance from Sena chief Bal Thackeray, Sena Delhi unit leader Abhimanyu Gulati said.
''When the Sikhs can keep 'kripan' for protection, which can't Shiv Saniks keep trishul, which is a symbol of Shiva,'' he asked.
He said since ''trishul'' represents the power of Shiva and Durga, it would be an insult to the Gods and Goddesses to misuse it.
August 17, 2004
Shiv Sena and the other nickerwalas for Savarkar
The Telegraph - August 18, 2004
Savarkar sting for Aiyar
OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
New Delhi, Aug. 17: An aggressive Shiv Sena today set the tone for the battle ahead in Maharashtra as it targeted Union petroleum minister Mani Shankar Aiyar for reportedly “insulting” the memory of freedom fighter and state icon Veer Savarkar.
Citing media reports, Sena leader Anant Geete said Aiyar during a recent visit ordered Indian Oil officials to remove Savarkar’s quotes inscribed on the walls of Port Blair Cellular Jail along with those of other freedom fighters who were imprisoned there.
“It is not only an insult to Savarkar’s memory but also an insult to all freedom fighters,” the Sena parliamentary party leader asserted, pointing out that just a year ago, all parties had agreed to install Savarkar’s portrait in Parliament’s Central Hall.
The Sena, which along with the BJP is making a strong bid to oust the Congress-led Democratic Front government in the crucial western state in the October polls, demanded an apology from Aiyar.
Supported by BJP members, Sena MPs also forced deputy Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal to adjourn the Lok Sabha till noon, forgetting that the Opposition had just a few days ago given its word not to disrupt question hour proceedings.
In the Upper House, too, the saffron parties forced a brief adjournment close to the lunch break.
Today’s offensive against the Congress comes in the wake of the Sena’s recent broadside on drought and malnutrition deaths in the state.
Aiyar was in the Rajya Sabha when Geete raised the issue in the Lower House. By the time Sena member in the Upper House Sanjay Nirupam raised the issue, Aiyar had left.
Savarkar sting for Aiyar
OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
New Delhi, Aug. 17: An aggressive Shiv Sena today set the tone for the battle ahead in Maharashtra as it targeted Union petroleum minister Mani Shankar Aiyar for reportedly “insulting” the memory of freedom fighter and state icon Veer Savarkar.
Citing media reports, Sena leader Anant Geete said Aiyar during a recent visit ordered Indian Oil officials to remove Savarkar’s quotes inscribed on the walls of Port Blair Cellular Jail along with those of other freedom fighters who were imprisoned there.
“It is not only an insult to Savarkar’s memory but also an insult to all freedom fighters,” the Sena parliamentary party leader asserted, pointing out that just a year ago, all parties had agreed to install Savarkar’s portrait in Parliament’s Central Hall.
The Sena, which along with the BJP is making a strong bid to oust the Congress-led Democratic Front government in the crucial western state in the October polls, demanded an apology from Aiyar.
Supported by BJP members, Sena MPs also forced deputy Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal to adjourn the Lok Sabha till noon, forgetting that the Opposition had just a few days ago given its word not to disrupt question hour proceedings.
In the Upper House, too, the saffron parties forced a brief adjournment close to the lunch break.
Today’s offensive against the Congress comes in the wake of the Sena’s recent broadside on drought and malnutrition deaths in the state.
Aiyar was in the Rajya Sabha when Geete raised the issue in the Lower House. By the time Sena member in the Upper House Sanjay Nirupam raised the issue, Aiyar had left.
RSS releases `proof' of its innocence
The Hindu - August 18, 2004
RSS releases `proof' of its innocence
By Neena Vyas
NEW DELHI, AUG. 17. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh today denied that it had anything to do with the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi and as "proof" of its innocence circulated a copy of a letter written by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to Jawaharlal Nehru just 28 days after the murder. However, it seems that the RSS overlooked the fact that the same letter blamed V.D. Savarkar for hatching the conspiracy and "seeing it through" while emphasising that "the assassination was welcomed by those of the RSS and the [Hindu] Mahasabha."
Defamation suit
Today, the RSS spokesperson, Ram Madhav, told a press conference that the organisation would wait for a week for a formal reply to its legal notice to the Human Resource Development Minister, Arjun Singh, after which it would file a criminal defamation suit against the Minister under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code for his written statement that the Mahatma's murder was the "only achievement of the RSS." Mr. Singh has already challenged the RSS to "do its worst" and has said that there is no question of his offering an apology.
To substantiate his assertion that the RSS had nothing to do with the Mahatma's assassination, Mr. Madhav circulated copies of Sardar Patel's letter of February 20, 1948 addressed to Nehru.
The three-page letter went into details of the investigation into the assassination and said that, "it clearly emerges from these statements [made by various people during investigations] that the RSS was not involved in it at all."
But the very next sentence stated: "It was a fanatical wing of the Hindu Mahasabha directly under Savarkar that [hatched] the conspiracy and saw it through."
The letter also stated that the Mahatma's assassination "was welcomed by those of the RSS and the [Hindu] Mahasabha who were strongly opposed to his way of thinking and to his policy ... the RSS has undoubtedly other sins and crimes to answer for, but not for this one."
Savarkar controversy
It appeared that while the RSS was absolving itself of any guilt in the Mahatma's assassination, it unwittingly added fuel to the Savarkar controversy that raised its head in Parliament today.
Mr. Madhav today charged Mr. Singh with having no commitment to any ideology but power and for using the RSS as a "whipping boy" and the Mahatma's assassination as an instrument in the Congress' internal power politics. "Whenever there is an internal power struggle in the Congress party the often repeated old charges related to Gandhi's assassination surface," Mr. Madhav said.
Admitting that the Mahatma's assassin, Nathuram Godse, was an RSS member, he said, "he had left [the RSS]" before the assassination. "So many become our members and then leave," he added.
Mr. Madhav said that the Sarshanghchalak at that time, M.S. Golwalkar, had condemned the assassination and had ordered the suspension of all RSS activities for 13 days as a mark of respect. Asked whether the Sangh had ever condemned Godse, Mr. Madhav shot back: "When we condemned the assassination did not that mean condemnation of the assassin?"
RSS releases `proof' of its innocence
By Neena Vyas
NEW DELHI, AUG. 17. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh today denied that it had anything to do with the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi and as "proof" of its innocence circulated a copy of a letter written by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to Jawaharlal Nehru just 28 days after the murder. However, it seems that the RSS overlooked the fact that the same letter blamed V.D. Savarkar for hatching the conspiracy and "seeing it through" while emphasising that "the assassination was welcomed by those of the RSS and the [Hindu] Mahasabha."
Defamation suit
Today, the RSS spokesperson, Ram Madhav, told a press conference that the organisation would wait for a week for a formal reply to its legal notice to the Human Resource Development Minister, Arjun Singh, after which it would file a criminal defamation suit against the Minister under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code for his written statement that the Mahatma's murder was the "only achievement of the RSS." Mr. Singh has already challenged the RSS to "do its worst" and has said that there is no question of his offering an apology.
To substantiate his assertion that the RSS had nothing to do with the Mahatma's assassination, Mr. Madhav circulated copies of Sardar Patel's letter of February 20, 1948 addressed to Nehru.
The three-page letter went into details of the investigation into the assassination and said that, "it clearly emerges from these statements [made by various people during investigations] that the RSS was not involved in it at all."
But the very next sentence stated: "It was a fanatical wing of the Hindu Mahasabha directly under Savarkar that [hatched] the conspiracy and saw it through."
The letter also stated that the Mahatma's assassination "was welcomed by those of the RSS and the [Hindu] Mahasabha who were strongly opposed to his way of thinking and to his policy ... the RSS has undoubtedly other sins and crimes to answer for, but not for this one."
Savarkar controversy
It appeared that while the RSS was absolving itself of any guilt in the Mahatma's assassination, it unwittingly added fuel to the Savarkar controversy that raised its head in Parliament today.
Mr. Madhav today charged Mr. Singh with having no commitment to any ideology but power and for using the RSS as a "whipping boy" and the Mahatma's assassination as an instrument in the Congress' internal power politics. "Whenever there is an internal power struggle in the Congress party the often repeated old charges related to Gandhi's assassination surface," Mr. Madhav said.
Admitting that the Mahatma's assassin, Nathuram Godse, was an RSS member, he said, "he had left [the RSS]" before the assassination. "So many become our members and then leave," he added.
Mr. Madhav said that the Sarshanghchalak at that time, M.S. Golwalkar, had condemned the assassination and had ordered the suspension of all RSS activities for 13 days as a mark of respect. Asked whether the Sangh had ever condemned Godse, Mr. Madhav shot back: "When we condemned the assassination did not that mean condemnation of the assassin?"
Rajasthan: Raje govt revokes trishul ban
Indian Express
August 17, 2004
Raje govt revokes trishul ban
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
JAIPUR, AUGUST 16: Buckling under pressure from the VHP and the Bajrang Dal, the Rajasthan government has revoked its controversial order, banning trishuls in the state. The decision came late on Monday night after the two organisations defied the ban and held trishul deeksha ceremonies here.
After spending months persuading the Vasundhara Raje government to revoke the ordinance, put in place by the previous Ashok Gehlot government, the VHP and Bajrang Dal took to the streets over the weekend, distributing tridents in the heart of Jaipur city. And in the past week, they signed up a ‘‘whole new army’’ of trishul-bearing youth.
Caught in the crossfire, the Raje government was forced to withdraw the notification. Defending the move, Home minister Gulab Chand Kataria said: ‘‘The notification was misleading, and in any case, it did not mention the trishul. These things have been part of our religious ceremonies. To avoid all the confusion and because this does not threaten anyone we have revoked the order.’’
In the VHP, they knew it was coming. So this Independence Day, they celebrated their freedom from the ‘‘autocratic Congress rule’’ of Gehlot and merrily distributed trishuls. Last week, in Kotputli, 60 trishuls were distributed, in Bharatpur 58, in Jhunjhunu 70, in Karauli 40 and in Sikar 80. On Sunday, there were programmes in Devli and Niwai. In Jaipur, 51 people ‘‘signed up’’.
‘‘We do it every year,’’ says Radhey Shyam Gautam, state general secretary of the VHP. ‘‘We celebrate the Akhand Bharat Sankalp Divas annually to protest the division of akhand bharat. And, we also pledge to ensure that it never happens again. During this, any young person who wants to take the trishul diksha does so. No law can stop us.’’
But last year, one law did stop them. On April 8, 2003 former CM Gehlot stopped the entire process with a curtly worded notification. Without mentioning the word trishul, his Home Department issued a notification that vividly described a trident and clamped down on all trishul diksha programmes. The decision subsequently led to the arrest of Pravin Togadia for violating the ban.
In its late night decision, the BJP government has reversed one of Gehlot’s most applauded decisions during his last few months in office and given the VHP and Bajrang Dal a free run in the state.
August 17, 2004
Raje govt revokes trishul ban
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
JAIPUR, AUGUST 16: Buckling under pressure from the VHP and the Bajrang Dal, the Rajasthan government has revoked its controversial order, banning trishuls in the state. The decision came late on Monday night after the two organisations defied the ban and held trishul deeksha ceremonies here.
After spending months persuading the Vasundhara Raje government to revoke the ordinance, put in place by the previous Ashok Gehlot government, the VHP and Bajrang Dal took to the streets over the weekend, distributing tridents in the heart of Jaipur city. And in the past week, they signed up a ‘‘whole new army’’ of trishul-bearing youth.
Caught in the crossfire, the Raje government was forced to withdraw the notification. Defending the move, Home minister Gulab Chand Kataria said: ‘‘The notification was misleading, and in any case, it did not mention the trishul. These things have been part of our religious ceremonies. To avoid all the confusion and because this does not threaten anyone we have revoked the order.’’
In the VHP, they knew it was coming. So this Independence Day, they celebrated their freedom from the ‘‘autocratic Congress rule’’ of Gehlot and merrily distributed trishuls. Last week, in Kotputli, 60 trishuls were distributed, in Bharatpur 58, in Jhunjhunu 70, in Karauli 40 and in Sikar 80. On Sunday, there were programmes in Devli and Niwai. In Jaipur, 51 people ‘‘signed up’’.
‘‘We do it every year,’’ says Radhey Shyam Gautam, state general secretary of the VHP. ‘‘We celebrate the Akhand Bharat Sankalp Divas annually to protest the division of akhand bharat. And, we also pledge to ensure that it never happens again. During this, any young person who wants to take the trishul diksha does so. No law can stop us.’’
But last year, one law did stop them. On April 8, 2003 former CM Gehlot stopped the entire process with a curtly worded notification. Without mentioning the word trishul, his Home Department issued a notification that vividly described a trident and clamped down on all trishul diksha programmes. The decision subsequently led to the arrest of Pravin Togadia for violating the ban.
In its late night decision, the BJP government has reversed one of Gehlot’s most applauded decisions during his last few months in office and given the VHP and Bajrang Dal a free run in the state.
August 14, 2004
BJP Panel To Look Into Bangladeshi Infiltration
Financial Express
BJP Panel To Look Into Bangladeshi Infiltration
OUR POLITICAL BUREAU
Posted online: Saturday, August 14, 2004 at 0000 hours IST
NEW DELHI, AUG 13: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday constituted a committee on “demographic invasion to study the grave problem of large-scale Bangladeshis” into India’s north-eastern region and other parts.
With Murli Manohar Joshi as convenor, the committee will comprise Arun Shourie, Sushil Modi, Tathagat Roy and Indramani Bora. Infiltration by Bangladeshi Muslims has been an old and favourite issue of the BJP and earlier of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the BJP’s previous avatar.
While in power, the BJP hardly ever raised the issue. But, with the chintan baithak urging the party to go back to Hindutva, the party intends to play up the issue. [...].
BJP Panel To Look Into Bangladeshi Infiltration
OUR POLITICAL BUREAU
Posted online: Saturday, August 14, 2004 at 0000 hours IST
NEW DELHI, AUG 13: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday constituted a committee on “demographic invasion to study the grave problem of large-scale Bangladeshis” into India’s north-eastern region and other parts.
With Murli Manohar Joshi as convenor, the committee will comprise Arun Shourie, Sushil Modi, Tathagat Roy and Indramani Bora. Infiltration by Bangladeshi Muslims has been an old and favourite issue of the BJP and earlier of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the BJP’s previous avatar.
While in power, the BJP hardly ever raised the issue. But, with the chintan baithak urging the party to go back to Hindutva, the party intends to play up the issue. [...].
July 20, 2004
[Rant on Muslim Invasion! ]This is not Mr Advani speaking
[Nickerwalas and their bosom pals from the national security circles have much in common in their language etc]
o o o
Indian Express
July 21, 2004
This is not Mr Advani speaking
As early as in 1996, the present Governor of Uttar Pradesh, T V Rajeswar had forecast the rise of a ‘‘third Islamic State’’ in the sub-continent. Bangladeshi Muslim immigrants into parts of Assam and North Bengal, he wrote, pose a grave danger to national as well as regional security
ARUN SHOURIE
What if I had forecast ‘the third Islamic State in the sub-continent’? What if I had drawn attention of the rulers to the long-standing design to create a Greater, Islamic Bangladesh — by annexing Assam, the bordering districts of West Bengal, and parts of Bihar, and to the fact that through illegal infiltration the design was well on the way to being realised? What if I had gone on to stress that the way this influx had already converted vast, contiguous tracts into Muslim, specifically Bangladeshi Muslim dominated areas, the prospect had already arisen that a third Islamic State may be carved in the sub-continent out of India?
What if I had recalled what the then Muslim League Premier of Bengal, Nazimuddin had told the Governor of the province, R G Casey — Casey had set it out for the Viceroy, Lord Wavell:
‘‘Nazimuddin tells me that they calculated that the combined area would give them a majority of 58% of Muslims in place of 51% if only all Bengal and all Assam were to be included. He tells me that the Muslims bred faster than the Hindus and that 58% would reach 60% and more within a relatively few years. He went on to say that they believed that once this North Eastern Pakistan was established, there would be no one more keen about it than the Hindus within its borders and that he believed it possible that the Burdwan Division might come into North Eastern Pakistan in due course.’’
What if I had gone on to cite Kissinger’s dire warning — should that be ‘‘wish’’?
‘‘The inevitable emergence of Bangladesh — which we postulated — presented India with fierce long-term problems. For Bangladesh was in effect East Bengal, separated only by religion from India’s most fractious and most separatist state, West Bengal. They share language, tradition, culture, and, above all, a volatile national character. Whether it turned nationalist or radical, Bangladesh would over time accentuate India’s centrifugal tendencies. It might set a precedent for the creation of other Moslem States, carved this time out of India. Once it was independent, its Moslem heritage might eventually lead to a rapprochement with Pakistan.’’
What if I had recalled this, and then in the following words urged the people and the Government to wake up to what had already come to pass:
‘‘Muslims in India accounted for 9.9 per cent (of India’s population) in 1951, 10.8 per cent in 1971 and 11.3 per cent in 1981, and presumably about 12.1 per cent in 1991. The present population ratio of Muslims is calculated to be 28 per cent in Assam and 25 per cent in West Bengal. In 1991 the Muslim population in the border districts of West Bengal accounted for 56 per cent in South and North Parganas, 48 per cent in Nadia, 52 per cent in Murshidabad, 54 per cent in Malda and about 60 per cent in Islampur sub-division of West Dinajpur. A study of the border belt of West Bengal yields some telling statistics: 20-40 per cent villages in the border districts are said to be predominantly Muslim. There are indications that the concentration of the minority community, including the Bangladesh immigrants, in the villages has resulted in the majority community moving to urban centres. Several towns in the border districts are now predominantly inhabited by the majority community but surrounded by villages mostly dominated by the minority community. Lin Piao’s theory of occupying the villages before overwhelming the cities comes to mind, though the context is different. However, the basic factor of security threat in both the cases is the same.
‘‘...Figures have been given showing the concentration of Muslim population in the districts of West Bengal bordering Bangladesh starting from 24 Parganas and going up to Islampur of West Dinajpur district and their population being well over 50 per cent of the population. The Kishanganj district (of Bihar) which was part of Purnea district earlier, which is contiguous to the West Bengal area, also has a majority of Muslim population. The total population of the districts of South and North 24 Parganas, Murshidabad, Nadia, Malda and West Dinajpur adds up to 27,337,362. If we add the population of Kishanganj district of Bihar of 986,672, the total comes to 28,324,034. (All figures are based on the 1991 Census.) This mass of land with a population of nearly 2.8 crores has a Muslim majority. The total population of West Bengal in 1991 was 67.9 million and of these, 28.32 million are concentrated in the border districts, with about 16-17 million population of minority community being concentrated in this area. This crucial tract of land in West Bengal and Bihar, lying along the Ganges/Hughly and west Bangladesh with a population of over 28 million, with Muslims constituting a majority, should give cause for anxiety for any thinking Indian.’’
And what if, from these figures, I had advanced two warnings. First,
‘‘There is a distinct danger of another Muslim country, speaking predominantly Bengali, emerging in the eastern part of India in the future, at a time when India might find itself weakened politically and militarily.’’
And second that the danger is as grave even if that third Islamic State does not get carved out in the sub-continent into a full-fledged country? What if I had put that danger as follows?
‘‘Let us look at the map of Eastern India — starting from the North 24 Parganas district, proceeding through Nadia, Murshidabad, Malda and West Dinajpur before entering the narrow neck of land lying through Raiganj and Dalkola of Islampur sub-division before passing through the Kishanganj district of East Bihar to enter Siliguri. Proceed further and take a look at the north Bengal districts of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar before entering Assam, and its districts of Dhubri, Goalpara, Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar and Barpeta. A more sensitive region in Asia is difficult to locate...’’
If I had written all this, what would that have made these dire forecasts? Communal? Fascist?
But all this is what the former head of the Intelligence Bureau, the new Governor of Uttar Pradesh, T V Rajeswar wrote in a series of articles in The Hindustan Times in early 1996.
Does the fact that you now know that he, and not I, to say nothing of Mr Advani, wrote all that make the warnings ring true? Or do you conclude that because he wrote in this refrain, T V Rajeswar is a closet communalist and should not be allowed to continue as Governor of Uttar Pradesh?
Should he too be dismissed from his post of Governor because, as will be clear from the expressions he used in these articles, his ‘‘ideology’’ is not compatible with the ‘‘ideology’’ that the new Government and its props profess?
In fact, Rajeswar had gone public with these warnings for good reason. For three of them, actually. First, the entire Northeast, much of Bengal and Bihar are indeed being inundated by this demographic aggression. Second, as Rajeswar documented, apart from everything else this swamping constitutes a grave threat to national security. Third, he had been trying in vain to awaken successive Prime Ministers and Home Ministers to the menace. To no avail.
He told me that after he had assumed office as Governor of West Bengal in March 1989, he had gone into the continuing demographic invasion from Bangladesh in great detail and found that the problem was far more serious than he had perceived earlier. He had written to the President, the Prime Minister and the Home Minister regularly during his stay in Kolkata on this danger. In his very first monthly report for March, 1989 sent to the President on April 6, with copies to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, he had referred to the problem of Bangladesh immigrants. In his report for the month of May 1989 he had referred to this matter in greater detail — as by now he had visited the North Bengal districts of Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling and West Dinajpur. He also wrote a detailed letter to Chief Minister Jyoti Basu on June 5, 1989 suggesting that a census should be held in all the districts of West Bengal to assess and identify Bangladeshi immigrants. He had urged that once the census had been conducted identity cards should be issued to those residing in the border districts of West Bengal.
After the Janata Dal Government assumed office at the Centre, he wrote in January 1990 to Shri I K Gujral, Minister for External Affairs, with copies to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. He suggested that a detailed study be carried out by a committee consisting of senior officers from the ministries of External Affairs and Home, as well as from the State Governments of West Bengal and Bihar. He said that this should be followed by a thorough census, that this should be conducted along with the national census of 1991. There was no response from any of them till he left Kolkata on February 6, 1990.
All these reports of T V Rajeswar will be available to the new Home Minister, Shivraj Patil — and presumably they will carry credibility with him. After all, they embody study and reflection, they embody the dire warnings of one whom Patil himself must have a hand in picking up for ‘‘ideological compatibility’’.
Another question also springs forth. Intelligence agencies have documented in diligent detail what is happening in the state over which Rajeswar now presides — Uttar Pradesh. They have documented how Islamic extremists have established a series of modules in West UP. They have documented the mushrooming of madrasas along the border of UP with Nepal, and they have elaborated at length the threat this spells for the country. Will T V Rajeswar, ever alert to the security needs of the country, and now Governor of the very state in which this peril is swelling by the month, will he now study this menace also, and awaken the new Government to it?
o o o
Indian Express
July 21, 2004
This is not Mr Advani speaking
As early as in 1996, the present Governor of Uttar Pradesh, T V Rajeswar had forecast the rise of a ‘‘third Islamic State’’ in the sub-continent. Bangladeshi Muslim immigrants into parts of Assam and North Bengal, he wrote, pose a grave danger to national as well as regional security
ARUN SHOURIE
What if I had forecast ‘the third Islamic State in the sub-continent’? What if I had drawn attention of the rulers to the long-standing design to create a Greater, Islamic Bangladesh — by annexing Assam, the bordering districts of West Bengal, and parts of Bihar, and to the fact that through illegal infiltration the design was well on the way to being realised? What if I had gone on to stress that the way this influx had already converted vast, contiguous tracts into Muslim, specifically Bangladeshi Muslim dominated areas, the prospect had already arisen that a third Islamic State may be carved in the sub-continent out of India?
What if I had recalled what the then Muslim League Premier of Bengal, Nazimuddin had told the Governor of the province, R G Casey — Casey had set it out for the Viceroy, Lord Wavell:
‘‘Nazimuddin tells me that they calculated that the combined area would give them a majority of 58% of Muslims in place of 51% if only all Bengal and all Assam were to be included. He tells me that the Muslims bred faster than the Hindus and that 58% would reach 60% and more within a relatively few years. He went on to say that they believed that once this North Eastern Pakistan was established, there would be no one more keen about it than the Hindus within its borders and that he believed it possible that the Burdwan Division might come into North Eastern Pakistan in due course.’’
What if I had gone on to cite Kissinger’s dire warning — should that be ‘‘wish’’?
‘‘The inevitable emergence of Bangladesh — which we postulated — presented India with fierce long-term problems. For Bangladesh was in effect East Bengal, separated only by religion from India’s most fractious and most separatist state, West Bengal. They share language, tradition, culture, and, above all, a volatile national character. Whether it turned nationalist or radical, Bangladesh would over time accentuate India’s centrifugal tendencies. It might set a precedent for the creation of other Moslem States, carved this time out of India. Once it was independent, its Moslem heritage might eventually lead to a rapprochement with Pakistan.’’
What if I had recalled this, and then in the following words urged the people and the Government to wake up to what had already come to pass:
‘‘Muslims in India accounted for 9.9 per cent (of India’s population) in 1951, 10.8 per cent in 1971 and 11.3 per cent in 1981, and presumably about 12.1 per cent in 1991. The present population ratio of Muslims is calculated to be 28 per cent in Assam and 25 per cent in West Bengal. In 1991 the Muslim population in the border districts of West Bengal accounted for 56 per cent in South and North Parganas, 48 per cent in Nadia, 52 per cent in Murshidabad, 54 per cent in Malda and about 60 per cent in Islampur sub-division of West Dinajpur. A study of the border belt of West Bengal yields some telling statistics: 20-40 per cent villages in the border districts are said to be predominantly Muslim. There are indications that the concentration of the minority community, including the Bangladesh immigrants, in the villages has resulted in the majority community moving to urban centres. Several towns in the border districts are now predominantly inhabited by the majority community but surrounded by villages mostly dominated by the minority community. Lin Piao’s theory of occupying the villages before overwhelming the cities comes to mind, though the context is different. However, the basic factor of security threat in both the cases is the same.
‘‘...Figures have been given showing the concentration of Muslim population in the districts of West Bengal bordering Bangladesh starting from 24 Parganas and going up to Islampur of West Dinajpur district and their population being well over 50 per cent of the population. The Kishanganj district (of Bihar) which was part of Purnea district earlier, which is contiguous to the West Bengal area, also has a majority of Muslim population. The total population of the districts of South and North 24 Parganas, Murshidabad, Nadia, Malda and West Dinajpur adds up to 27,337,362. If we add the population of Kishanganj district of Bihar of 986,672, the total comes to 28,324,034. (All figures are based on the 1991 Census.) This mass of land with a population of nearly 2.8 crores has a Muslim majority. The total population of West Bengal in 1991 was 67.9 million and of these, 28.32 million are concentrated in the border districts, with about 16-17 million population of minority community being concentrated in this area. This crucial tract of land in West Bengal and Bihar, lying along the Ganges/Hughly and west Bangladesh with a population of over 28 million, with Muslims constituting a majority, should give cause for anxiety for any thinking Indian.’’
And what if, from these figures, I had advanced two warnings. First,
‘‘There is a distinct danger of another Muslim country, speaking predominantly Bengali, emerging in the eastern part of India in the future, at a time when India might find itself weakened politically and militarily.’’
And second that the danger is as grave even if that third Islamic State does not get carved out in the sub-continent into a full-fledged country? What if I had put that danger as follows?
‘‘Let us look at the map of Eastern India — starting from the North 24 Parganas district, proceeding through Nadia, Murshidabad, Malda and West Dinajpur before entering the narrow neck of land lying through Raiganj and Dalkola of Islampur sub-division before passing through the Kishanganj district of East Bihar to enter Siliguri. Proceed further and take a look at the north Bengal districts of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar before entering Assam, and its districts of Dhubri, Goalpara, Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar and Barpeta. A more sensitive region in Asia is difficult to locate...’’
If I had written all this, what would that have made these dire forecasts? Communal? Fascist?
But all this is what the former head of the Intelligence Bureau, the new Governor of Uttar Pradesh, T V Rajeswar wrote in a series of articles in The Hindustan Times in early 1996.
Does the fact that you now know that he, and not I, to say nothing of Mr Advani, wrote all that make the warnings ring true? Or do you conclude that because he wrote in this refrain, T V Rajeswar is a closet communalist and should not be allowed to continue as Governor of Uttar Pradesh?
Should he too be dismissed from his post of Governor because, as will be clear from the expressions he used in these articles, his ‘‘ideology’’ is not compatible with the ‘‘ideology’’ that the new Government and its props profess?
In fact, Rajeswar had gone public with these warnings for good reason. For three of them, actually. First, the entire Northeast, much of Bengal and Bihar are indeed being inundated by this demographic aggression. Second, as Rajeswar documented, apart from everything else this swamping constitutes a grave threat to national security. Third, he had been trying in vain to awaken successive Prime Ministers and Home Ministers to the menace. To no avail.
He told me that after he had assumed office as Governor of West Bengal in March 1989, he had gone into the continuing demographic invasion from Bangladesh in great detail and found that the problem was far more serious than he had perceived earlier. He had written to the President, the Prime Minister and the Home Minister regularly during his stay in Kolkata on this danger. In his very first monthly report for March, 1989 sent to the President on April 6, with copies to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, he had referred to the problem of Bangladesh immigrants. In his report for the month of May 1989 he had referred to this matter in greater detail — as by now he had visited the North Bengal districts of Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling and West Dinajpur. He also wrote a detailed letter to Chief Minister Jyoti Basu on June 5, 1989 suggesting that a census should be held in all the districts of West Bengal to assess and identify Bangladeshi immigrants. He had urged that once the census had been conducted identity cards should be issued to those residing in the border districts of West Bengal.
After the Janata Dal Government assumed office at the Centre, he wrote in January 1990 to Shri I K Gujral, Minister for External Affairs, with copies to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. He suggested that a detailed study be carried out by a committee consisting of senior officers from the ministries of External Affairs and Home, as well as from the State Governments of West Bengal and Bihar. He said that this should be followed by a thorough census, that this should be conducted along with the national census of 1991. There was no response from any of them till he left Kolkata on February 6, 1990.
All these reports of T V Rajeswar will be available to the new Home Minister, Shivraj Patil — and presumably they will carry credibility with him. After all, they embody study and reflection, they embody the dire warnings of one whom Patil himself must have a hand in picking up for ‘‘ideological compatibility’’.
Another question also springs forth. Intelligence agencies have documented in diligent detail what is happening in the state over which Rajeswar now presides — Uttar Pradesh. They have documented how Islamic extremists have established a series of modules in West UP. They have documented the mushrooming of madrasas along the border of UP with Nepal, and they have elaborated at length the threat this spells for the country. Will T V Rajeswar, ever alert to the security needs of the country, and now Governor of the very state in which this peril is swelling by the month, will he now study this menace also, and awaken the new Government to it?
Church desecration leaves Gujarat village tense
Church desecration leaves Gujarat village tense:
Ahmedabad, July 20 [2004] (IANS) :
Police in a south Gujarat village are on the alert after a church was attacked over the weekend sparking off communal tensions.
A group of 20 people allegedly stormed a church that was under construction in Rohiyal Talal village in Surat district, 278 km from here. Police said the gang damaged its side walls, iron grills and window pans late Sunday.
"The desecrators arrived in a jeep armed with spades and axes and did the damage to the church," said a police official.
"Though we have been able to maintain law and order and there has been no untoward incident as the fallout of the alleged act of desecration, the situation still appears to be tense," a senior police official said.
Police have identified the accused but are still to make arrests. Officials have also confirmed the involvement of three members of the rightwing Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in the incident.
The police complaint was filed late Monday by Suresh Ada Varli, who was supervising the church's construction.
Ahmedabad, July 20 [2004] (IANS) :
Police in a south Gujarat village are on the alert after a church was attacked over the weekend sparking off communal tensions.
A group of 20 people allegedly stormed a church that was under construction in Rohiyal Talal village in Surat district, 278 km from here. Police said the gang damaged its side walls, iron grills and window pans late Sunday.
"The desecrators arrived in a jeep armed with spades and axes and did the damage to the church," said a police official.
"Though we have been able to maintain law and order and there has been no untoward incident as the fallout of the alleged act of desecration, the situation still appears to be tense," a senior police official said.
Police have identified the accused but are still to make arrests. Officials have also confirmed the involvement of three members of the rightwing Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in the incident.
The police complaint was filed late Monday by Suresh Ada Varli, who was supervising the church's construction.
July 06, 2004
Shiv Sena, Sangh Parivar activists attack Delhi-Lahore bus
Rediff.com
URL: http://in.rediff.com/news/2004/jul/06attack.htm
Shiv Sena, Sangh Parivar activists attack Delhi-Lahore bus
Phagwara | July 06, 2004 20:55 IST [News Source PTI]
Activists of the Shiv Sena and Sangh Parivar outfits today hurled stones at the Delhi-Lahore bus while it was passing through an area where they were protesting against alleged disrespect shown to Hindu gods and goddesses in a play, breaking its windowpanes and causing minor injuries to a passenger.
The incident occurred when the Lahore-bound Delhi Transport Corporation bus was passing through Phagwara in Punjab where activists of the Shiv Sena, Bajrang Dal, and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad were squatting on the road to protest against Aaj ki Ramayan. On espying the bus, they turned their ire on the bus and began stoning it and the police escort vehicles.
Jalandhar district police chief G P S Bhullar said that in the attack, the windowpanes of the bus as well as the escort vehicle were broken.
However, except for minor scratches to one passenger, no other passenger was injured in the attack, he said, adding that the damaged bus was soon repaired and allowed to continue its journey.
The Phagwara police have registered a case and re hunting for the miscreants, police sources said.
As a precautionary measure, the Delhi-bound bus from Pakistan was stopped a distance away and allowed to pass after two hours, said Bhullar.
The protestors have alleged that a new drama written by Kuldip Vats, released on compact discs, was disrespected Hindu gods and goddesses.
URL: http://in.rediff.com/news/2004/jul/06attack.htm
Shiv Sena, Sangh Parivar activists attack Delhi-Lahore bus
Phagwara | July 06, 2004 20:55 IST [News Source PTI]
Activists of the Shiv Sena and Sangh Parivar outfits today hurled stones at the Delhi-Lahore bus while it was passing through an area where they were protesting against alleged disrespect shown to Hindu gods and goddesses in a play, breaking its windowpanes and causing minor injuries to a passenger.
The incident occurred when the Lahore-bound Delhi Transport Corporation bus was passing through Phagwara in Punjab where activists of the Shiv Sena, Bajrang Dal, and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad were squatting on the road to protest against Aaj ki Ramayan. On espying the bus, they turned their ire on the bus and began stoning it and the police escort vehicles.
Jalandhar district police chief G P S Bhullar said that in the attack, the windowpanes of the bus as well as the escort vehicle were broken.
However, except for minor scratches to one passenger, no other passenger was injured in the attack, he said, adding that the damaged bus was soon repaired and allowed to continue its journey.
The Phagwara police have registered a case and re hunting for the miscreants, police sources said.
As a precautionary measure, the Delhi-bound bus from Pakistan was stopped a distance away and allowed to pass after two hours, said Bhullar.
The protestors have alleged that a new drama written by Kuldip Vats, released on compact discs, was disrespected Hindu gods and goddesses.
Bajrang Dal activists vandalise Indore hospital
Deccan Herald
July 06, 2004
Bajrang Dal activists vandalise Indore hospital
BHOPAL, DHNS:
Hundreds of Bajrang Dal activists indulged in massive vandalism at a private
hospital in Indore on Sunday. They smashed the cars parked on the hospital
premises and set a couple of two-wheelers afire. They also broke the window
panes and glass doors of the hospital, upturned the beds in the various
wards and drove out the patients. Some of the 300-odd assailants were
carrying country-made pistols, which they used liberally to fire in the air.
All this because a young girl working in a PCO on the hospital premises was
supposed to have eloped with a boy employed in the hospital canteen. The boy
happens to be a Muslim while the girl is a Hindu. The Mayur hospital, which
became the target of the ire of the Bajrang Dal workers, is owned by a
Mohammedan gentleman.
The Bajrang Dal activists alleged that the owner of the hospital had helped
one of his Muslim employees to abduct a Hindu girl. Led by its district
convener, the Bajrang Dal workers had met the district Superintendent of
police on Saturday and had demanded immediate action against Yusuf, the
canteen boy. The SP expressed his inability saying that the family members
of the girl had not even proffered a missing person complaint.
The Bajrang dal workers angrily stormed out of the SP office promising that
ìthey would do justice themselvesî. After the threat, a posse of policemen
was deployed at the hospital, however, the assailants, who came in jeeps and
motor cycles , easily outnumbered.
Reinforcements could reach only after the Bajrangis had run amok for more
than half-an-hour. Thereafter, they turned their ire at the police, injuring
an additional SP.
July 06, 2004
Bajrang Dal activists vandalise Indore hospital
BHOPAL, DHNS:
Hundreds of Bajrang Dal activists indulged in massive vandalism at a private
hospital in Indore on Sunday. They smashed the cars parked on the hospital
premises and set a couple of two-wheelers afire. They also broke the window
panes and glass doors of the hospital, upturned the beds in the various
wards and drove out the patients. Some of the 300-odd assailants were
carrying country-made pistols, which they used liberally to fire in the air.
All this because a young girl working in a PCO on the hospital premises was
supposed to have eloped with a boy employed in the hospital canteen. The boy
happens to be a Muslim while the girl is a Hindu. The Mayur hospital, which
became the target of the ire of the Bajrang Dal workers, is owned by a
Mohammedan gentleman.
The Bajrang Dal activists alleged that the owner of the hospital had helped
one of his Muslim employees to abduct a Hindu girl. Led by its district
convener, the Bajrang Dal workers had met the district Superintendent of
police on Saturday and had demanded immediate action against Yusuf, the
canteen boy. The SP expressed his inability saying that the family members
of the girl had not even proffered a missing person complaint.
The Bajrang dal workers angrily stormed out of the SP office promising that
ìthey would do justice themselvesî. After the threat, a posse of policemen
was deployed at the hospital, however, the assailants, who came in jeeps and
motor cycles , easily outnumbered.
Reinforcements could reach only after the Bajrangis had run amok for more
than half-an-hour. Thereafter, they turned their ire at the police, injuring
an additional SP.
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