BJP wisdom: Life term for killing a cow; no Ba Ba Black Sheep

Indian Express
June 14, 2006

BJP wisdom: Life term for killing a cow; no Ba Ba Black Sheep
Milind Ghatwai


Madhya Pradesh set to amend law on cow slaughter; nursery rhymes in school textbooks out to ‘reduce Western influence’

BHOPAL, JUNE 13:As Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan moves to rewrite predecessor Uma Bharati’s law against cow slaughter by handing offenders 14-years in jail as against the current maximum of three years, his Education Minister Narottam Mishra has rewritten the primary school syllabi, dropping popular nursery rhymes like Twinkle, twinkle little star and Ba ba black sheep to “reduce Western influence” on children.

Chouhan’s government, it’s learnt, plans to introduce a Bill this July to amend the law against cow slaughter. A decision to the effect was taken at a meeting attended by Chouhan, officials of the Law and Animal Husbandry departments and the State Board for Protection of Cows.

The minimum fine will be Rs 5,000 and the maximum could depend on the number of cows slaughtered. The Madhya Pradesh Govansh Vadh Pratishedh Adhiniyam, 2004, provides for a maximum punishment of three years or a fine of Rs 10,000.

Dr S N Nigam, Deputy Director of MP Gopalan Evam Samvardhan Board who attended the meeting, told The Indian Express that if the proposed amendment takes place, the jail term could go up to 14 years.

In BJP-ruled states of Rajasthan and Gujarat, cow slaughter punishment can invite a maximum of ten years and seven years in jail respectively.

The MP government also plans to change the law on movement of cows. The existing law, which deals with vehicular transportation of cows, is helpless when offenders get away by making the cows walk within and across the state borders. Now, a permit will be required from district authorities before the cows can be moved.

Meanwhile, Chouhan’s government has replaced six popular nursery rhymes like Twinkle, twinkle little star and Ba ba black sheep with Indian rhymes in the Class I English textbook. Education Minister Narottam Mishra said there was “no need” to continue with English rhymes when there were Indian rhymes around to infuse “a sense of patriotism”.

BJP leaders booked in J&K for incitement to kill

The Navhind Times
June 11, 2006

BJP leaders booked in J&K

PTI

Jammu, June 10: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, Mr Vinay Katiyar and Mr Sahib Singh Verma were today booked by the Jammu and Kashmir police for inciting communal passion by announcing monetary rewards to civilians killing militants even as the saffron party sought to defend them saying they were echoing popular sentiments.

A first information report has been registered against them for “making provocative statements” and “inciting communal passions” under section 123-A and 153-A Ranbir Penal Code in Nowabad police station here, the deputy inspector-general of police, Mr Niaz Mehmood, told PTI.

The BJP general-secretary, Mr Katiyar and the party vice-president, Mr Verma on Thursday had announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh each for any civilian for killing a militant and Rs 2 lakh for a civilian’s family if he laid down his life fighting militants.

Mr Katiyar, a former chief of Bajrang Dal, is incharge of the ongoing ‘satyagraha’ in Jammu against the killing of Hindus in Doda and Udhampur.

Maintaining that he was not aware of the details of the FIR, the party spokesman, Mr Prakash Javadekar, who is in Jammu, said legal experts would respond to it.

“The BJP is against the common man taking to arms. It does not believe in anyone taking the law in his hands. The leaders were only echoing the general sentiments of the people in the region who have been witness to the government’s failure in tackling militancy. Perhaps they had in mind the village defence committees created and armed by the government to fight terrorists,” he said.

Following party chief, Mr Rajnath Singh’s ‘directive’, Mr Javadekar had yesterday `clarified’ that the leaders were propagating a government scheme.

The Congress party, People’s Democratic Party and the National Conference have condemned the BJP leaders’ call saying it would further vitiate the situation in the militancy-hit state.

Saffron Police at Temples

The Statesman
March 14, 2006

Saffron security

BHUBANESWAR, March 13— The VHP and Bajrang Dal will form small groups of local youths to assist local police in providing security to temples and hindu maths, VHP leader, Mr Subash Chauhan said, adding that it was time to build their own security network. As a step in this direction, the VHP and the Bajrang Dal will engage and train local youths to guard temples and keep watch at railway stations and airports, he said.
The VHP leader specified Puri Jagannath Temple, Lingaraj Temple, Bhubaneswar, Samaleswari Temple, Sambalpur, Cuttack Chandi Mandir and Konark temple as first priority of the Surakshya Samitis which will be formed. “Subsequently we shall try to cover all major places of worships and maaths in the state,” he said. — SNS

Hindu Law Board offers money to eliminate M F Hussain

Rediff.com

(see google cache of the paage from Rediff
http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:DvVN5cjNE5MJ:www.rediff.com/news/2006/feb/23mf.htm+husain+%22bharat+mata%22+chop+off&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1)

Home > News > PTI

Hindu Law Board offers Rs 51 cr for killing M F Hussain

February 23, 2006 01:05 IST

The Hindu Personal Law Board on Wednesday announced a Rs 51 crore reward for eliminating artist M F Hussain. Meanwhile, a Congress minority cell leader offered Rs 11 lakh to any 'patriot' to chop off the painter's hands for hurting Hindu sentiments.

"Anyone who kills Hussain for making obscene paintings of goddess Sarswati and Bharat Mata, the Danish cartoonist, those in the German company printing pictures of Ram and Krishna on tissue paper and the French filmmaker desecrating Lord Shiva will be given Rs 51 crore in cash," Ashok Pandey, board president, said in a statement in Lucknow.

"Peace will not prevail on earth unless such people are eliminated," he added.

Madhya Pradesh Congress committee minority cell vice-chairman Akthar Baig, in a statement in Indore, said the painter had 'played with the sentiments of the people and tried to disrupt communal harmony in the past by painting nude pictures of Hindu gods and goddess and now of Bharat Mata'.

It would be in the 'interest of the nation if a patriot will chop off his hands. I will give that person Rs 11 lakh', he said.

Baig asked the government to take back all the honours bestowed on the noted painter and declare him a 'traitor'. In an Indore court, Baig had earlier filed a petition against Bollywood actor Dharmendra's purported second marriage to Hema Malini.

P.T. Usha, Geet, Srinath on RSS panel for Golwalkar

The Deccan Chronicle

P.T. Usha, Geet, Srinath on RSS panel


New Delhi, Feb. 22: Former queen of the Indian track P.T. Usha, former vigilance commissioner N. Vittal, former billiards world champion Geet Sethi, former cricketer Javagal Srinath and ace shooter Jaspal Rana are among the prominent members of the 122-strong Guru Golwalkar Birth Centenary Celebrations Committee formed by the RSS.
While former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee is one of the leading members, the RSS did not include Mr L.K. Advani in the committee. The committee will organise “Hindu rallies to promote social harmony” and hold public hearings along the lines of “jan adalats” in various localities to “expose corrupt people”. The campaign for “mass awareness” will begin from February 24.
Noted dancer Sonal Mansingh and violinist Lalgudi Jayaraman, Mohan veena creator Vishwa Mohan Bhatt also figure in the list. Sharing places with them are RSS general secretary Mohan Bhagwat and VHP president Ashok Singhal.
The committee will chalk out a year-long mass awareness campaign to propagate the “ideas and vision of Guruji”. In an article in the RSS mouthpiece Organiser, the chairman of the committee, Swami Satyamitranand Giri of Bharatmata Mandir, Hardwar, spelt out the programme: “Hindu rallies will be organised at the block level across the nation. Meetings of caste and religious leaders will be held to promote social harmony. Seminars and lectures will also be organised to propagate the ideas and vision of Guruji.” Another task is to make drug addicts “leave drugs”. Though Mr Advani is not included in the list, he will be among the leaders to participate at the inaugural function in Nagpur on February 24.

No sex education please, we are Hindus!

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=2&theme=&usrsess=1&id=100828

No sex education please, we are Hindus!
Ranjeet S Jamwal
in Jaipur
Dec. 27. — Should schools educate students about sex related issues? Definitely not, as far the Vishwa Hindu Parishad is concerned, as it fears sex education would encourage immorality among school students.
The Rajasthan government has included sex education in the curriculum for Class XI and students will be given lessons on the topic from the coming session. But the VHP is opposing the inclusion of sex education in the school syllabus and has threatened to resist it at every level.
A spokesperson of the state unit of VHP, Mr Mahavir Parikh said the government should rethink the proposal and see to it that sex education does not become part of school education. He said it would encourage immorality among students.
Citing the example of western countries where sex education is part of the curriculum, Mr Parikh said the results have not been good there and incidents of young girls becoming pregnant at young age have increased. “Rather, the government should provide education that inculcates good values in students according to our culture,” Mr Parikh said.
A senior education department official, however, said just three chapters on life skills have been included in the syllabus for class XI. “But these three chapters are not all about sex but various problems young people face while growing up. But yes, sex education is definitely a part of it,” the official said.
“The government has approved the inclusion of sex education in the syllabus under the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA),” the official added. The VHP has decided to registered its protest with the education minister.

It’s aimed at Hindus: Says Bajrang Dal on sterilisation camp

(Indian Express, November 11, 2005)

It’s aimed at Hindus: Says Bajrang Dal on sterilisation camp

by Milind Ghatwai

BHOPAL, NOVEMBER 10: There are men who don’t go to family planning camps. But here, they run away after having reached it. Ask the Bajrang Dal workers standing guard at the vasectomy camp in Siwni (near Hoshangabad) and they will tell you, it’s like conversion — men were lured to the camp. They just changed their mind.

To make sure, Bajrang Dal members have been stopping the officials at work as well.

Not only this. Days before the camp, they went around spreading ‘‘awareness’’ in the Hoshangabad district, trying to convince villagers that the camp was aimed at Hindu men. Officials said persuading men was always difficult, and the Bajrang Dal has made it more so. Doctors have to be accompanied by policemen. Dal activists allege that Muslims are not being sterilised.

This is the camp which the Dal would rather reserve only for minorities. But the free-of-cost government NSV (non-scalpel vasectomy) camp, where the male gets Rs 265 and the motivator Rs 25 per case, is a Central government scheme open for all.

On Wednesday, the first day of the camp, Bajrang Dal men gathered outside the town’s community health centre and argued with officials. The few men who came from nearby villages ran away.

On Thursday, 50 policemen had to be deployed, but the Dal men continued to raise slogans. Dal’s prant sanyojak Manish Dube said: ‘‘We won’t tolerate our men being lured to the camp. Why don’t they bring Muslims?’’

‘‘Those who escaped must have been brought on false promises,’’ he alleged. ‘‘We will oppose such camps,’’ he warned and announced that he will take up the issue at Dal’s three-day national executive meeting to begin at Haridwar on Saturday.

SDM Niaz Ahmed admitted that the Dal’s drive affected turnout. ‘‘We are unlikely to cover all 253 males who had given written consent.’’

Additional collector V.P. Deharia said: ‘‘We are approached only when doctors fail to meet the target.’

VHP to launch Hindu Sena in Assam

(Hindustan Times, November 11, 2005)

VHP to launch Hindu Sena in Assam
Newsfile
Guwahati, November 11, 2005

After the All Assam Students Union which launched its Asom Sena some time back, it is now time for the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) to launch a similar outfit in the state.

The VHP's outfit, which is being formed to "protect the interests of the indigenous communities in the state" is being called the Hindu Sena, said senior leaders of the Parishad.

According to the VHP leaders, it had become necessary to form an organisation such as the Hindu Sena as the government had failed to protect indigenous people as the activities of Pakistan's ISI was growing in the state. "It is now up to the VHP to take the responsibility of ensuring that the Indian communities here are not compromised," they said.

The All Assam Koch Rajbongshi Students Union (AKRASU) has meanwhile opposed the proposed Sena of the VHP. President of the Bongaigaon unit of the AKRASU Phanindra Singha said that his organisation would not allow parties to play politics in the name of religion.

The View from the Right

(Indian Express, November 4, 2005)


The View from the Right
Excerpts from the Organiser, the mouthpiece of the RSS, Deepavali Special Issue

EDITORIAL

The Deepavali special issue of the Organiser is in a magazine rather than the usual tabloid format. In a signed two-page editorial, editor R. Balashankar outlines the various legends behind Deepavali in different parts of the country and then slams ‘‘the communal, pro-Muslim, pro-Pakistani vocal brigade in the media and politics in India.’’ Accusing them of resisting ‘‘all voices of nationality, patriotism, native aspirations and cultural heritage,’’ he concludes: ‘‘This divisive loyalty, the trans-national commitments, anti-Hindu attitudes are the contemporary manifestations of Ravana and Narakasura. These have not yet gained the strength that God should incarnate. They are very much within our power to demolish. Let’s drop the veil on vigil and reveal our vibrant energy and power. [Deepavali] is the celebration of victory. Let’s give meaning to our celebration. Or it will become a meaningless splurge.’’

COVER STORY

The cover story entitled ‘Mau burnt as Mulayam fiddled’ is a six-page detailed “investigation” on the riots that broke out on October 13. It claims that ‘‘99% of the victims’’ were Hindus and ‘‘if any Muslim suffered, it was due to action of security forces against the rioters.’’ Disputing the official toll figure of 14, the report says the unofficial figure ‘‘is believed to be more than 200 dead, 500 injured and over 300 missing.’’ No evidence, though, is provided to substantiate this belief. Writer Pramod Kumar also notes how ‘‘Muslims have criminalised and communalised the region’’ through the uncontrolled mushrooming of madrasas and mosques and warns that the Mau riots ‘‘appear just a beginning of a larger disaster. The Hindus, whichever political party they support, are going to face serious troubles.’’

POLITICS PLUS

The article under this subheading by Ashoke Dasgupta entitled ‘Marxism is dead but UPA keeps it alive’ attacks CPI and CPM for carrying the deadwood of Marxism but, confusingly, also criticises them for not being Marxist enough. It says,‘‘Once a political party commits itself to Marxism, it has to wage political class struggle for the establishment of socialism. The two communist parties minus policies to achieve socialism are, in this way of assessment, two ghost parties that deceitfully exhibit as if they have not bonded themselves in a coalition submitting themselves to the hegemony of Sonia’s party.’’ It concludes with the dire prediction that ‘‘a weak, aimless Sonia party’s coalition government under the stranglehold of ghost Marxists’’ is turning India into a soft state ‘‘which may be the initial steps to becoming a banana republic.’’

DEBATE

The reprinted article under this rubric by Anthony Browne in Brussels gives an objective account of the debate raging in the Netherlands on the Dutch government’s proposal to ban the burqa. The author quotes opposition to the move and notes how the Netherlands ‘‘ has become less liberal’’ over the years in its attitude towards immigrants. Curiously, the main blurb in the piece does not figure in the actual article at all. It says, ‘‘Why can’t India implement similar measures ...like the Dutch are doing? Well, we know the answer, the vote banks and secularism that support fatwas against Imrana or Sania. Secularism of the Indian kind, which does not exist anywhere else, is dangerous not only to the security of India but also to civilisation in general.’’

REPORT

A report on the three-day Hindu Dharmacharya Sabha conference in Mumbai from October 16-18 notes the presence of two special invitees to the conference — VHP leader Ashok Singhal and Janata Party president Subramaniam Swamy. The report extensively quotes Swamy’s speech on how Hindus are under siege today but are not speaking out enough. ‘‘It is not enough if today’s Hindu is pious or rich. What matters is the mindset of the Hindu that recognises that India shall forever be a nation of Hindus and those whose ancestors are Hindus or those we accepted in our land as refugees (Parsis, Jews and Syrian Christians). Such Hindus must always retaliate in a deterrent way when attacked even mildly,’’ Swamy is quoted as having said to the acharyas who gave him ‘‘a prolonged ovation.’’

(Compiled by Manini Chatterjee)

Now Parivar plans a Rajasthan Kumbh on Babri anniversary

(Indian Express, October 22, 2005)

Now Parivar plans a Rajasthan Kumbh on Babri anniversary

by Sandipan Sharma

Rajasthan, banswara BANSWARA, OCTOBER 21: The Sangh Parivar is quietly planning to take its Ram Temple offensive to the remote tribal areas of Rajasthan. The RSS-VHP combine will organise a huge ‘Hindu Kumbh’ here on December 6, the day Babri Masjid was demolished.

Thousands of tribals from Banswara and adjoining Dungarpur are expected to attend the Kumbh, where Sarsanghkaryavaah Mohan Bhagwat will be the chief guest. ‘‘We are expecting more than 50,000 people from these two districts alone to come for the gathering,’’ said VHP Banswara head Ram Swaroop, who is in charge of the event.

Activists have begun fanning out in the area to spread the word. ‘‘There will be no formal invitation for the Kumbh,’’ Swaroop said. The day-long inaugural Kumbh, whose mainstay would be a show of strength in the local stadium, would be followed by bhajan sandhyas in local temples.

The Parivar, as reported first in The Indian Express, is organising another Kumbh in the Dangs, Gujarat, where too it is involved in a battle with Christian missionaries to win over the tribals.

The twin-districts of Banswara-Dungarpur in south Rajasthan have a high density of tribal population and is the new battleground for the Hindutva brigade and the missionaries. The Kumbh here is seen as the Parivar’s response to a three-day Christian gathering in the last week of October in Sagwa village of Banswara. Thousands of people are expected to attend this event, where preachers from across the country are scheduled to speak. The local VHP chief said their strategy had indeed been prompted by the missionaries in the area. ‘‘The Christian missionaries are embedded deep in the villages of this area. Our effort is to check the conversions,’’ he said.

‘‘We do not believe in direct confrontation with them. Our strategy would be to interact with the tribals in the interiors and erase the influence of missionaries on them,’’ he said.

Bajrang Dal's arms-training programme in Aligarh

(http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=87804&cat=India)

Bajrang Dal conducts arms training camp at Aligarh:-
Aligarh | June 12, 2005 5:23:45 PM IST

Bajrang Dal conducted a seven-day arms-training programme in Aligarh that concluded Saturday.


Bajrang Dal activist, Prakash Sharma claims that this training would boost will power, confidence and courage in the trainees. The trainees at the training camp were provided training in firearms, martial arts and other physical endurance tests.

"We are training our youth generation to make them courageous. We are focussing on their mental and physical development so that they can meet the challenges and circumstances faced by the country. In all 40 camps will be set up for seven days all over the country," said Prakash Sharma, Bajrang Dal.

According to sources, retired Army officials were imparted also training at the programme.

According to a latest legislation passed by the Parliament, possessing arms or imparting training in arms, besides lathi, is a criminal offence. (ANI)

VHP, Bajrang Dal distribute trishuls in Orissa

(Deccan Herald - May 24, 2005)

VHP, Bajrang Dal distribute trishuls
DH News Service ,Bhubaneswar:

A ‘Trishul Diksha’ programme was organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal at Nimapara in Orissa’s coastal Puri district on Sunday where trishuls were distributed to nearly 350 youths from different coastal districts. They were also administered oath to work for the protection of the Hindu religion.

The event was organised at the end of a week-long training session of VHP-Bajrang Dal volunteers.

Last year too, an attempt was made to hold such an event in the presence of VHP heavyweight Praveen Togadia which had to be cancelled due to resistance from the state administration as well as a few non-BJP political parties.

Sunday’s programme was a low-key affair. The only Central leader present at the function was Rajendra Prasad Pankaj, an all-India secretary of the VHP.However, several leaders of the Orissa units were present. They included Subash Chouhan, the state coordinator of the Bajrang Dal, and Gouri Prasad Rath, a secretary of the VHP’s Orissa unit. Significantly, the controversial event was held the day RSS chief K S Sudarshan arrived in the state. Mr Sudarshan, however, visited the state to attend a different programme — a two-day training camp of the RSS cadres at Talcher in Angul district.

Karnataka: Bajrang Dal to train workers in arms usage

(Deccan Herald - May 6, 2005)

Bajrang Dal to train workers in arms usage
DH News Service Chikmagalur:

The list of selected workers of Bajrang Dal who will receive training on usage of arms for the protection of the country will be prepared on May 8.

In a statement, Bajrang Dal said the trainees would be selected in presence of Bajrang Dal’s South India Convener Pramod Muthalik and State Convener Mahendra Kumar. Prominent workers from various taluks of the district will take part in the selection rally.

He said Muthalik will take part in the Saamoohika Satyanarayana Pooja to be held in Moodigere and address a public meeting before finalising the formalities for Bajrang Dal Bharthi campaign to be started from this month in the State.

Hindu Jagrutha Tarun Samavesh will be held at 2 pm at Kadabagere in Chikmagalur taluk.

‘Be accountable’ campaign leader Girish Mattannavar will the chief guest, he explained.

VHP summer camp for Gujarati kids in US

(Indian Express, April 22, 2005)

VHP summer camp for Gujarati kids in US
Parents request Parishad to keep issues like Ayodhya, Gujarat and 9/11 out of summer camp agenda
RUPAM JAIN NAIR     Posted online: Friday, April 22, 2005 at 0200 hours IST

AHMEDABAD, APRIL 21: Summer vacation is round the corner. And this time, non-resident Gujaratis aren’t packing off their children for a holiday in the motherland. Instead, they will be sent to summer camps organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s American wing. The objective is simple: to teach them ‘‘the way of life’’ — Hinduism.

The maximum number of applications for the VHP’s summer camps in Atlanta, Houston and Medford are from the Gujarati community. While requesting the VHP to train their children to recite shlokas and read Bhagwad Gita, the Gujaratis have also made a humble appeal: ‘‘Please do not discuss or encourage issues like Ram Janambhoomi, Godhra train carnage and 9/11 attacks.’’

‘‘Over 1,500 parents have applied for their children, some aged below eight,’’ says Shushila Bhagat, member-secretary of VHP (America). ‘‘The children learn and practice Hindu values and Hindu philosophy here. They also learn skills like applying mehendi and tying a turban. Kabaddi and gulli-danda are the games they play.’’

‘‘We are not trying to impose Hinduism, nor asking anyone to convert. Our aim is to tell Hindus living abroad that they should be aware of their roots and accept Hinduism as a way of life,’’ says Abhijit Desai, a camp co-ordinator who has been living in New York for over three decades now.

The VHP also organises Bal Vihar — a weekly two-hour programme for children in the age group of 5-12. They are trained to perform surya namaskar, chant gayatri mantra and hanuman chalisa.

Sunita Verma, who runs a restaurant in Houston, has enrolled her two children for the Bal Vihar programme. ‘‘I am aware of the VHP’s stand on the Ram Mandir issue and the allegations levelled against them during the Gujarat communal disturbances. As a Hindu, I do not want my children to grow up as hardliners, but I do want them to know about the Vedas and learn the traditional values.’’

Organisers of the summer camp admit that parents do enquire if they will be speaking on the Ayodhya or the Gujarat issues.

‘‘The unanimous feedback from parents has always been that no discussion on terrorism, 9/11 attacks or Godhra train carnage should be encouraged as they do not want their children to form an opinion,’’ says Maithili, a story-teller at the camp.

‘‘It’s tough to choose between right and wrong. Sometimes, I feel that the VHP agenda is justified. But I cannot ask my children to follow it as they have the right to decide. My aim is to help them understand our culture,’’ says Prof G Raaj, a teacher in Texas.

Raaj sends his three daughters for Sanskrit classes at the VHP community centre. ‘‘America is very big, I do not want them to be lost. They should know the basics of life.’’
   

Bajrang Dal upsets V-Day celebrations

Bajrang Dal upsets V-Day celebrations
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NDTV Correspondent
Monday, February 14, 2005 (Bhopal):
While the entire world is going crazy celebrating love, love birds in Bhopal are having a tough time because of the Bajrang Dal threat.
Since the saffron government came to power, the self-appointed moral police are more visible and menacing.
Saffron threat
Their latest fatwa is that any couple caught celebrating Valentine's Day will suffer public humiliation and get their faces blackened.
It's a diktat that has not only kept couples in hiding but also affected the floral business. Earlier, Valentine's Day meant florists making between Rs 15-50 for a dozen roses. But this time, there are hardly any takers even at Rs 10.
"Last Valentine we did brisk business. A flower was sold at fifteen, twenty and sometimes even at RS 45! But this year even at ten rupees, nobody is buying because of the Bajrang Dal. As a result of the terror created by them, we are not getting any customers," said Ashok, a florist.
Business hit
Hotels too are deserted. This year there are no theme parties, no Valentine Balls and no incentives to celebrate romance.
"What if we go out somewhere and the Bajrang Dal attacks us. I am scared whether to celebrate or not," said Rahul Singh, a local.
The land that gave Khajuraho to the world – an ultimate symbol of eroticism – now love is a forbidden word here courtesy the self-appointed Custodians of Indian culture.
According to the saffron brigade, love is only permitted after a couple is married.

Hindu Hardliners Burn Valentine Cards

World - AP Asia
Hindu Hardliners Burn Valentine Cards

Mon Feb 14, 5:50 AM ET

NEW DELHI, India - Nearly 50 Hindu hardliners burned Valentine's Day (news - web sites) cards and posters in the Indian capital on Monday, protesting the international day of love that they say imposes Western values on India's youth.

Reuters Photo

There was no violence as policemen cordoned off the area and prevented the Shiv Sena activists from marching through the sprawling Delhi University campus.

In the past, Hindu nationalists have ransacked shops selling cards and harassed young lovers seen holding hands in public.

On Monday, the protesters dispersed after chanting slogans.

Jai Bhagwan Goyal, New Delhi chief of the Bombay-based Shiv Sena, said multinational companies were promoting Valentine's Day to earn money through the sale of cards and posters.

"This is against Hindu culture and corrupts India's youth," he said.

The protest didn't have any impact on the university campus, as young students continued to move around exchanging flowers and cards.

The Shiv Sena organizes protests every year on Feb. 14 to demand a ban on Valentine's Day celebrations, but gets little response from the government.

Shiv Sena wants India to be a Hindu nation, rather than a secular, multi-religious one.

Valentine's Day has gained popularity in India despite being a cultural flashpoint. Conservative traditions have been buffeted by growing permissiveness among high school and colleges students and young adults.

VHP 'Ram Barat' to pass through Bihar before polls

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

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

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.”

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.