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Shah Rukh Khan’s car damaged by VHP miscreants in Gujarat

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SHAHRUKH khan

Ahmedabad: Shouting slogans against actor Shah Rukh Khan, members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad or VHP threw stones at a parking lot of a luxury hotel in Ahmedabad early on Sunday damaging his car.

The attack was reportedly against the shooting of his upcoming film “Raees” in Gujarat over his earlier remarks on “intolerance”.

The film’s crew members are staying in the hotel but the 50-year-old actor was not there at the time of the incident as he arrived in Ahmedabad only this afternoon.

After an FIR for rioting and damaging property was filed in this regard in the evening, at least seven persons, claimed to be associated with the VHP, were detained, police said.

According to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) BU Jadeja, eight to 10 people threw stones in the open parking lot of Hyatt Regency Hotel on Ashram Road, where Mr Khan’s vehicle was parked, this morning and fled from the spot.

“As per the complaint lodged by the Security Officer of the hotel, eight to 10 persons came on bikes and threw stones on cars parked in the open parking lot early this morning. Due to the stone pelting, windscreen of Shah Rukh Khan’s car got damaged,” said Mr Jadeja.

“We have learnt that Shah Rukh Khan was not there in the hotel when incident took place. Some of his crew members, who have come here for shooting, were staying in the hotel. Shah Rukh landed in the city this afternoon for the shoot,” he added. The shooting is taking place in Bhuj.

Meanwhile, a video showing unidentified persons throwing stones inside the hotel also surfaced on social media sites. In the video, they can be seen shouting slogans against Mr Khan and fleeing on bikes after throwing stones.

Gujarat unit of VHP claimed responsibility for the incident. The outfit’s State spokesperson Raju Patel said the detained persons are associated with VHP and threw stones on Mr Khan’s car as part of their ongoing protests against the actor.

Around 20-30 VHP activists had last week handed over a memorandum to Bhuj district officers and demanded withdrawal of the permission given for the shooting of the film. They protested outside the district Collector’s office pressing for the same demand and shouted slogans against the actor and also burnt and tore his posters.

In November last year, Mr Khan sparked a debate when he said during an interview that there was “growing intolerance” in India.

However, the actor later statements just a few days later, claiming his comments had been misconstrued.

(Agencies)

 

VHP’s first lot of stones for Ram Temple arrives in Ayodhya

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vhp

Ayodhya: Almost six months after the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) announced its nationwide drive to collect stones for construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, two trucks of stones arrived in the temple city on Sunday.

“Two trucks of stones have been unloaded at Ram Sewak Puram, a VHP property in Ayodhya, and ‘Shila Pujan’ (praying of the stones) has been performed by Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, the president of Ram Janam Bhumi Nyas,” VHP spokesman Sharad Sharma said.

Meanwhile, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das told PTI that there was a “signal” from the Modi government that the temple will be built “now”.

“Now, the time has come for the construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Lots of stones arrived today in Ayodhya and their arrival will continue. We have signals from Modi government that Mandir (temple) construction would be done now,” he said.

Reacting to the arrival of stones at the VHP headquarters, Faizabad Senior Superintendent of Police Mohit Gupta said that the police was monitoring the situation.

“We are monitoring all the developments minutely. Stones have arrived and being kept in a private premises. Due to this development, if their was any breach in peace or communal harmony we will definitely take action,” he said.

Asserting its resolve to build the Ram temple, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad had in June announced a nationwide drive to collect stones for construction of the temple.

“About 2.25 lakhs cubic ft of stones are required for the construction of the Ram temple and about 1.25 lakh cubic ft of stones are ready at the VHP’s headquarter in Ayodhya. The rest one lakh cubic ft stones would be collected nationwide from Hindu devotees,” VHP leader Ashok Singhal, who died last month in Gurgaon, had said.

The announcement had met with a quick reaction from the administration, which had said that it would oppose the move as the matter was sub judice.

Principal Secretary (Home) Devashish Panda had said that the Uttar Pradesh government would not allow arrival of stones in Ayodhya for construction of Ram Temple.

“Since the matter is sub judice, the government will not allow starting of any new tradition regarding Ayodhya issue,” he had said.

(Agencies)

Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Ashok Singhal dies

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ashok singhal

New Delhi: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Ashok Singhal died at a hospital in Gurgaon near Delhi today.

The 89-year-old leader was admitted to the Medanta Medicity Hospital in the city on November 13 in critical condition. He was suffering from respiratory problems for over a month.

In a message posted on Twitter, PM Narendra Modi has said “The demise of Ashok Singhal ji is a deep personal loss. He was an institution in himself, whose life was centred around serving the nation.”

The VHP is an affiliate of the BJP’s ideological mentor the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or the RSS.

Mr Singhal was at the forefront of the VHP’s campaign for a Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya where the Babri Masjid was demolished on December 6, 1992.

Mr Singhal was earlier admitted to Medanta on October 20 after his condition deteriorated. He was flown in to Delhi from Allahabad in an air ambulance. He was discharged on November 11.

(Agencies)

VHP, Bajrang Dal are trying to disrupt peace in state: CM Siddaramaiah

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siddaramaiah

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah slammed Hindutva groups here on Friday, November 13 and said, “VHP and Bajrang Dal are trying to disrupt peace in the state.” CM slammed opposition parties and said that they have resorted to disturb social harmony in the state under the guise of religion. Hidden animosity within them is spreading hatred among the people, he said.

“We decided to celebrate Tipu Jayanthi to announce that we all are one”, he added. His comment comes in the wake of the recent bandh call and violence across the state by pro-Hindu groups against Tipu birth anniversary.

Normal life has been paralysed due to the bandh call by right wing groups over Madikeri clashes in protest against celebrating the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan. The bandh call given across the state turned violent and miscreants pelted stones at private and government buses in Puttur and Surathkal of Dakshina Kannada district.

VHP groups protested in front of Town hall in Bengaluru on Friday, condemning Madikeri violence. Security has been tightened in sensitive areas across the state.

Meanwhile, Home Minister G Parameshwara held a meeting with top police officials and reviewed law and order situation following the Tipu row.

The Chief Minister has ordered a magisterial probe into the Madikeri clashes and Deputy Commissioner C Shikha will lead the probe, it has been reported.

BJP MP Venkaiah Naidu, speaking on the recent Tipu row said, “Both good and bad opinions have been prevailing on Tipu Sultan. I won’t comment on local issues as a central minister,” he said.

Former Prime Minister and JD (S) supremo Deve Gowda, while commenting on the violence said that the state government’s decision to celebrate Tipu’s anniversary was wrong and that this has led to communal clashes. Earlier, Muthalik’s speech had led to violence in Hassan, he said.

The state government’s decision to hold Tipu’s birth anniversary celebrations across the state has sparked several protests by the BJP and right-wing groups. The protests turned violent in Madikeri on the day of the celebration and the unrest has been extended to Dakshina Kannada district as well. Agitating over the death of a VHP leader in Madikeri on November 10 and the murder of a youth at BC Road on November 12, the district unit of Bajrang Dal and VHP have called for dawn-to-dusk bandh on Friday, November 13. However, it received mixed response in few parts of the state as several buses were running and shops were kept open.

(Agencies)

Anti-Tipu protesters responsible for VHP activist’s death in Madikeri, says CM Siddaramaiah

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KARNATAKA JOINT SESSION

Bengaluru: Strongly justifying the Karnataka government’s decision to celebrate Tipu Jayanti, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah slammed the Sangh Parivar for spreading violence on the day of Diwali in Madikeri and other parts of the state.

He said that staging violent protests against the celebration of the birth anniversary of India’s greatest freedom fighter and the only king who laid down his life in the battle field for the country, is not acceptable.

The CM’s remarks come after the violence unleashed by the Sangh Parivar activists in Madikeri to disrupt Tipu Jayanti claimed the lives of two persons including Kuttappa, a local leader of Vishva Hindu Parishad.

Reacting to the questions on the remarks of BJP leaders, who held chief minister responsible for the death of VHP activist, Mr Siddaramaiah said that those who staged protest and unleashed violence instead of celebrating Diwali are responsible for the death.

“They staged protest and resorted to rioting and violence. They are the lawbreakers. Then, how can they blame me? They are the responsible for the consequences,” he said urging the police to take necessary measures to restore law and order in the Kodagu district.

(Agencies)

"Yoga was never secular, it is more Vedic and Sanatan": Pravin Togadia

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Praveen Togadia

Jaipur: Amidst opposition in some quarters to observing International Yoga Day, VHP International Executive President Praveen Togadia on Monday said that the discipline was never secular and was more of “Vedic and Sanatan”.

He also said that Surya Namaskar was an essential part of the exercise form and no performance of yoga was complete without it.

“Om and Surya Namaskar, two exercises of yoga, are very necessary and without them, yoga is incomplete,” Togadia told reporters at a VHP event here.

The Hindu right-wing leader leader further said that “yoga was never secular, it is more ‘Vedic and sanatan’ (ancient)”.

“Namaj and yoga are two different things. Those who do not want Om and Surya Namaskar, they should practise only gym activity for better health,” he said.

“Those who want to live healthy life should opt for yoga, and those who want to commit suicide (not better life) could avoid it,” he warned.

He also said that VHP would not allow any changes to be introduced in yoga exercises.

On the sidelines of a state-level training event, Togadia added that five lakh health ambassadors would be trained under a VHP programme over the next three years. He also said that similar training programmes would be launched in 300 cities.

After several Muslim groups expressed reservations against offering ‘surya namaskar’ and reciting Sanskrit ‘slokas’ during the yoga ‘asanas’ to be performed during the June 21 International Yoga day event on Rajpath in New Delhi, the government had decided not to include ‘surya namaskar’ and ‘om’ chanting in the set of ‘asanas’ to be performed during the official celebrations.

(PTI)

VHP, RSS force Muslim to sell off his bungalow in Hindu neighbourhood

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Praveen Togadia

Bhavnagar: The atrocities of the VHP and RSS groups have grabbed the headlines again after the Hindu right-wing activists forced a Muslim scrap dealer to sell off his bungalow in a Hindu neighbourhood.

As per a report published in a national daily, a Muslim scrap dealer Ali Asgar Zaveri had bought a bungalow worth Rs 49 lakhs in Bhavnagar, a Hindu locality.

However, Zaveri was not welcomed by the Hindus living in that area and they protested against him.

Gatherings were held outside Zaveri’s bungalow and VHP leader PraveenTogadia was invited to address the gathering.

A senior RSS leader, who had participated in this protest, told The Indian Express that the Muslim scrap dealer tried everything possible to sort out things, but all in vain. They pressurized him to sell of his bungalow to Bhumiti Associates, a real-state firm owned by Jains.

Confirming the same, president of VHP’s Bhavnagar city unit, S D Jani, as quoted in The Indian Express, said, “Due to our agitation, the vidharmi (one from another faith, Zaveri) realized he would not be able to settle in and eventually gave in.”

(Agencies)

VHP calls for ban on Kamal Haasan's 'Uttama Villain'

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Uttama Villain

Chennai: Members of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) have called for a ban on actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan-starrer Tamil drama “Uttama Villain”, claiming it will affect the religious sentiments of Hindi people.

In their statement to the commissioner of police on Monday, the group alleged that the song “Iraniyan Nadagam”, about the disparaged conversation between Prahalad and Hiranyakashipu, will hurt the sentiments of Hindus.

“The lyrics of the song will upset followers of Lord Vishnu. It belittles the conversation between Prahalad and Hiranyakashipu. Hence, we demand a ban on the film,” K.L Sathiyamoorthy, member of VHP, told IANS.

Directed by Ramesh Aravind, the movie is about an 8th century theatre artist and a modern-day superstar.

(IANS)

Friction over India's beef trade heats up after attacks

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Rescued cattle are seen at a "goushala", or cow shelter, run by Bharatiya Gou Rakshan Parishad, an arm of the Hindu nationalist group Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), at Aangaon village in Maharashtra February 20, 2015. REUTERS/Shailesh Andrade

Rescued cattle are seen at a “goushala”, or cow shelter, run by Bharatiya Gou Rakshan Parishad, an arm of the Hindu nationalist group Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), at Aangaon village in Maharashtra February 20, 2015. REUTERS/Shailesh Andrade

by Meenkashi Sharma, Reuters

Mumbai: Hindu nationalists in India have stepped up attacks on the country’s beef industry, seizing trucks with cattle bound for abattoirs and blockading meat processing plants in a bid to halt the trade in the world’s second-biggest exporter.

The industry is predominantly run by Muslim traders and some groups in the majority Hindu population vehemently oppose it due to the revered status of cows. Beef traders fear that elements in the party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi may be condoning the latest flare-up in protests.

There has been a surge of raids this month. An official at a beef transport group in Maharashtra state said around 10 vehicles travelling to Mumbai had been stopped, the animals taken forcefully and drivers beaten by members of Hindu nationalist groups despite carrying valid documents.

“We are doing everything legally, but these people harass us and disrupt our work for no reason,” said Mohammad Shahid Sheikh, president of the beef transporters’ group in Deonar, the site of India’s biggest abattoir on the outskirts of Mumbai.

Despite the sensitivities over the trade, India has become the world’s top beef exporter behind Brazil. Traders said the current attacks had not caused major disruption, but if they were to become nationwide could threaten the lucrative business.

A majority of India’s beef comes from buffaloes, which are not worshipped, but members of Hindu nationalist groups involved in protests such as Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) consider themselves protectors of both cows and buffaloes.

Some of these groups have close links with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Prime Minister Modi, who himself criticised the previous government for promoting a “pink revolution to butcher cattle and export meat”.

The attacks on beef traders are another example of Modi’s struggles to contain extremist elements of the BJP’s support base, whose strident behaviour is dragging on the government’s economic reform agenda.

Modi last week vowed to protect all religious groups after attacks on Christian institutions in New Delhi, which were partly blamed for the BJP’s drubbing in a state election.

The BJP’s national general secretary, Ram Madhav, declined to comment on the party’s stance on the beef trade and the protests, while Modi’s press officer did not respond to calls and a text message seeking comment.

Satpal Malik, a vice president of the farmers wing of the BJP, said: “We did say we would discourage beef exports and even the prime minister was against it, but I can’t comment on what we think of the issue now.”

CRACKDOWN?

Officials in Maharashtra – scene of some of the most violent protests seen to date – have pledged to arrest anyone found impeding access to slaughterhouses or disrupting cattle movement.

A circular had been sent to all the police units to enforce this and was due to be implemented immediately, said a senior police officer from Maharashtra, declining to be named.

Mohammad Ali Qureshi, president of the Bombay Suburban Beef Dealers Association, said that while beef processing has resumed at many facilities, he would back calls for a nationwide protest if fresh trouble breaks out.

“We will monitor the situation for a month and if the promises are not kept we will launch a nation-wide protest,” he said, in between sipping tea as butchers went about their job in Deonar.

But those opposed to the trade vowed to keep staging protests. Killing cows is legal in just two of India’s 29 states, though reports of illegal slaughter surface regularly.

“We don’t care if the butchers shut shop or announce a strike,” said Laxmi Narayan Chandak, head of the Maharashtra unit of VHP’s cow protection committee, which says it has been seizing cows held illegally for slaughter for years.

“The previous government supported the butchers to secure votes of the minority community but they have no support in the new government.”

India’s beef shipments in the last year to October rose to 1.95 million tonnes, 5 percent more than for the whole of 2013, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

A senior official at a leading Indian beef exporter said that exports had been rising because of robust demand from China and other big consumers.

“But if supplies are disrupted for a longer period then definitely it would hit our productivity.”

(Additional reporting by Rupam Jain Nair and Krishna N. Das; Writing by Krishna N. Das; Editing by Gavin Maguire and Ed Davies)

Fresh proposal to accommodate both Masjid and Mandir in Ayodhya

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Hashim Ansari Mahant Gyan Das

Ayodhya: In a new twist to the complex Babri masjid-Ram temple case, main litigant Mohammad Hashim Ansari has discussed with Akhara Parishad chief Mahant Gyan Das a new proposal for the resolution of the Ayodhya dispute that they plan to put before the Supreme Court.

The out-of-court settlement proposal suggests that the 70 acres of the disputed premises would accommodate both mosque and temple with a partition wall at a height of 100 feet.

Mr. Ansari has met Mr. Gyan Das, who is also the head priest of Ayodhya’s famous Hanuman Garhi temple, on several occasions to find a solution to the complex issue that has remained unresolved for decades.

The idea behind the plan is to find a middle path keeping in mind the sensibilities of both the Hindu and the Muslim communities, sources said.

“We are drafting the final points of a negotiation draft, which will be presented before the Supreme Court soon after the hearing starts. We will be meeting the Prime Minister too to seek his cooperation,” Mr. Das said after the meeting on Monday.

The proposal has been discussed with top Hindu religious groups and main spiritual leaders, he added.

Mr. Ansari said, “After the draft is finalised, we will get it signed by all the top religious leaders from both the communities who are supporting our cause since the beginning, before submitting it in the Supreme Court.” The negotiation draft would be made public only after it was submitted to the Supreme Court, he added.

Referring to recent statements by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad on the issue, Mr. Das said it was not a party in the “peace process”.

“They just want to create communal tension between the communities…We are in favour of construction of both Ram temple and Babri mosque adjacent to each other but with a huge division wall of more than 100 ft in between,” the Hanuman Garhi temple head priest said.

(Agencies)

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