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'Ghar Wapsi' will stop after 15 cr people are reconverted: VHP

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Aligarh: Sadhvi Prachi Arya, a prominent Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader, has said that the ‘Ghar Wapsi’ programme will continue till the fifteen crore people who, she claimed, have left the Hindu fold post Independence, are “reconverted to Hinduism”.

“The ‘Ghar Wapsi’ programme launched by some Hindutva organisations would continue until all the fifteen crore people who have left the Hindutva fold after Independence are reconverted to Hinduism,” Arya said at a convention organised by VHP at the Ramleela Grounds in the old City last night.

She also said that the Father of the Nation title to Mahatma Gandhi was “unwarranted”.

“The title of the Father of Nation to Gandhi was unwarranted because the true sacrifice for attaining freedom was carried out by others,” she said.

“The credit for India’s independence was wrongly attributed to Gandhi when it should have been given to Vir Savarkar and Bhagat Singh,” she said.

Sadhavi said the VHP would also continue its movement to ensure increase in the population of Hindus in India which had been steadily declining compared to others.

“I and BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj are receiving threats but we are not scared and would continue working for the rights of the Hindu community,” she said.

The VHP also announced that it would launch a movement for renaming Aligarh as ‘Harigarh’ which, the organisation claimed, was the city’s original name.

The convention was attended by senior BJP leaders including Lok Sabha MP Satish Gautam and city Mayor Shakuntala Bharti.

(Agencies)

Cases against Togadia, other VHP leaders for violating Bengaluru police orders

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Despite Police Ban, Praveen Togadia Addresses VHP Supporters Via Video at National College grounds in Bengaluru on Feb. 08, 2015. Photo: Handout email

Despite Police Ban, Praveen Togadia Addressed VHP Supporters Via Video at National College grounds in Bengaluru on Feb. 08, 2015. Photo: Handout email

Bengaluru: Criminal cases have been registered against VHP leader Praveen Togadia and organisers of ‘Hindu Virat Samavesha’ for allegedly violating prohibitory orders issued by Bengaluru Police Commissioner MN Reddi.

“We have booked one criminal case against Togadia and cases against the organisers for violating prohibitory orders,” a top police official, who did not wish to be named, said in Bengaluru on Monday night.

Togadia has been booked under Section 188 of IPC,invoked against an offender for disobeying the order duly promulgated by public servant.

Sections 143 (punishment for unlawful assembly), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence omitted in prosecution of common object), and 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) of the IPC have been invoked against event organisers, he said.

Section 188 was also invoked against the organisers for violating orders for holding the programme beyond the prescribed time limit. “Permission was granted to hold the event from 3 pm to 5 pm, but it extended to 7.40 pm,” the official said.

This section also was invoked against organisers for playing a 15-minute video footage of Togadia’s speech, defying the orders of the Police Commissioner, the official said.

On 7 February, Reddi had issued an order, prohibiting organisers from displaying and transmitting Togadia’s speech through any form of media for two days.

Last week, he had imposed the prohibitory orders on the ground that Togadia’s ‘provocative’ and ‘inflammatory’ speeches would have ‘grave’ consequences and likelihood of breach of peace.

VHP had challenged the Commissioner’s orders on Togadia’s entry into the city in the High Court with the interim prayer for a stay on the ban.

While declining the interim plea, the Judge, however, had said Hegde’s petition was maintainable and adjourned the matter without mentioning the next date of hearing.

(PTI)

Defying ban, VHP airs Togadia speech at Hindu Samajotsava

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Despite Police Ban, Praveen Togadia Addresses VHP Supporters Via Video at National College grounds in Bengaluru on Feb. 08, 2015. Photo: Handout email

Despite Police Ban, Praveen Togadia Addresses VHP Supporters Via Video at National College grounds in Bengaluru on Feb. 08, 2015. Photo: Handout email

Bengaluru: The organisers of the Virat Hindu Samajotsava in the City played a pre-recorded video clip of a fiery speech by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) international working president Praveen Togadia in Hindi on Sunday. This is despite a police ban on airing his speeches in any form.

In the speech, Togadia said: “Let no one come and teach us religious tolerance. From the time of creation of the universe we have religious tolerance,” hinting at US President Barack Obama’s remark during his recent visit to India. Obama had said the “acts of intolerance” experienced by religious faiths of all types in India in the past few years would have shocked Mahatma Gandhi.

“Teach it to those who are into religious conversions. From now on, no Hindu shall be converted and we will do ghar wapsi to bring them back.” He also said, “We will get rid of all Bangladeshi Muslims living in the country.”

He exhorted Hindus to come together, leaving the caste system behind, and demanded a “Samvyadhanik Hindu Rashtra” (Constitutional Hindu nation).

The clip — which was played at the end of the over three-hour conclave — stopped the crowd in their tracks, many of whom had started leaving the venue. As the two giant screens played the video clip, people stood in rapt attention.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Alok Kumar, who was present at the venue, said: “The organisers have violated the police order. We have made a note of this. We will consult legal experts and go ahead with the proceedings. So far, we have not detained anyone.

On Saturday, City Police Commissioner M N Reddi had issued an order prohibiting Keshav Hegde, VHP organising secretary, and other organisers of the ‘Samavesha’ from displaying and transmitting any speech of Togadia through audio, visual or any other media at the venue for two days, from 6 pm on February 7 to 6 pm on February 9.

(Agencies)

Bengaluru: VHP to hold live telecast of Praveen Togadia's speech

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Praveen Togadia

Bengaluru: A day after Karnataka High Court rejected VHP’s plea for a stay on the police order banning its leader Praveen Togadia’s entry into the city on grounds of law and order, the saffron outfit has made all arrangements to live telecast his speech through video-conferencing at the ‘Hindu Virat Samavesha’ to be held here tomorrow.

“Togadia has already reached Karnataka borders and will enter the state today or tomorrow. There is a stay on his entry into Bengaluru city, but there isn’t on his giving speech through video-conferencing mechanism,” VHP’s State Public Relations Officer Manjunath Swamy told reporters here.

Justice Abdul Nazir had on Saturday turned down the interim prayer by Karnataka VHP Organising Secretary Keshav Hegde for staying the police commissioner’s order banning Togadia’s entry into the city from February 5 to 11.

City Police Commissioner MN Reddi had earlier this week imposed the ban on the ground that Togadia’s “provocative and inflammatory” speeches would have “grave” consequences and likelihood of breach of peace.

Swamy said they have invited some television channels to live telecast Togadia’s speech arranged outside Bengaluru for tomorrow’s event here.

On City Police Commissioner MN Reddi’s remark that the live telecast even from outside Bengaluru will amount to an offence, Swamy said, “It will not amount to an offence. The Police Commissioner can tell many things. Even I am an advocate and tell you that it will not amount to an offence. If it is done, then it will be an anti-democratic act.” Reddi told reporters that any speech made by Togadia through video-conferencing will amount to offence.

“It will amount to an offence. We will do everything to issue a ban order on Togadia using video-conferencing mechanism to deliver speech,” he said.

VHP had challenged the police commissioner’s prohibitory orders on Togadia’s entry into the city in the High Court with the interim prayer for a stay on the ban.

While declining the interim plea, the Judge, however, said the writ petition filed by Hegde was maintainable and adjourned the matter without mentioning the next date of hearing.

(PTI)

The New York Times slams Modi’s dangerous silence on communal attacks in India

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New York: After U.S. President Barack Obama raised the issue of religious intolerance in India, The New York Times (NYT) published a very strong editorial criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi for what it calls his “dangerous silence” on a series of communal events in the country.

The editorial, by the NYT editorial board, lists recent attacks on churches and reports of Ghar Vapsi or conversion and marks out the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) for its proposed conversions programme in Ayodhya in March this year, saying the group “was playing with fire.” “Mr. Modi’s continued silence before such troubling intolerance increasingly gives the impression that he either cannot or does not wish to control the fringe elements of the Hindu nationalist right,” the NYT editorial surmised.

New York Times editorial: ‘Modi’s Dangerous Silence’

Full text of the Editorial published in the New York Times on February 6, 2015:

What will it take for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak out about the mounting violence against India’s religious minorities? Attacks at Christian places of worship have prompted no response from the man elected to represent and to protect all of India’s citizens. Nor has he addressed the mass conversion to Hinduism of Christians and Muslims who have been coerced or promised money. Mr. Modi’s continued silence before such troubling intolerance increasingly gives the impression that he either cannot or does not wish to control the fringe elements of the Hindu nationalist right.

Recently, a number of Christian churches in India have been burned and ransacked. Last December, St. Sebastian’s Church in East Delhi was engulfed in fire. Its pastor reported a strong smell of kerosene after the blaze was put out. On Monday, St. Alphonsa’s Church in New Delhi was vandalised. Ceremonial vessels were taken, yet collection boxes full of cash were untouched. Alarmed by the attacks, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India has urged the government to uphold the secular nature of India and to assure its Christians they are “protected and secure” in their own country.

There is also concern about the mass conversions. Last December, about 200 Muslims were converted to Hinduism in Agra. In January, up to 100 Christians in West Bengal “reconverted” to Hinduism. Hard-line Hindu nationalist groups, like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), make no secret of their support for a “homecoming” campaign designed to “return” non-Hindus to the fold. More than 80 per cent of Indians are Hindu, but Pravin Togadia of the VHP says his organisation’s goal is a country that is 100 per cent Hindu. The only way to achieve that is to deny religious minorities their faith.

The VHP is reportedly planning a mass conversion of 3,000 Muslims in Ayodhya this month. The destruction of the Babri Mosque there in 1992 by Hindu militants touched off riots between Hindus and Muslims across India that left more than 2,000 people dead. The VHP knows it is playing with fire.

Mr. Modi has promised an ambitious agenda for India’s development. But, as President Obama observed in a speech in New Delhi last month: “India will succeed so long as it is not splintered along the lines of religious faith.” Mr. Modi needs to break his deafening silence on religious intolerance.

Karnataka high court upholds ban on Praveen Togadia

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Praveen Togadia

Bengaluru: The Karnataka high court today upheld Bengaluru police commissioner’s order on banning entry of VHP leader Praveen Togadia into Bengaluru.

He was to take part in Virat Hindu Samavesha, which will be held at National College grounds on February 8.

Advocate General (AG) Ravivarma Kumar on Thursday had submitted to the high court that Togadia was a dangerous man who could disrupt the communal harmony in the State through his provocative speeches.

In likelihood that Togadia may deliver provative speech at the Hindu convention, the Bengaluru police commissioner issued orders banning Togadia from entering Bengaluru between February 5 and February 11. The decision has been met with much criticism from right wing groups and religious leaders, and also the opposition BJP, which crippled the House proceedings for two consecutive days and even staged a walkout.

BJP walks out of Karnataka Assembly against ban on Togadia

Earlier, on Wednesday the BJP MLAs raised objection in the Karnataka Assembly to the ban on VHP leader Praveen Togadia entering Bengaluru, leading to the adjournment of the House repeatedly.

BJP leader R Ashoka raised the issue as the House met for the day and questioned the government’s intention behind the action and called it an attempt to “suppress” the majority, leading to a heated argument between BJP and Congress MLAs.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah intervened to say government would not allow anything that disturbs peace in society. This further angered BJP members.

The Speaker said he would give permission to raise the issue during Zero Hour and Question Hour should be allowed to function smoothly, to which members agreed.

(Agencies)

VHP leader Praveen Togadia barred from entering Bengaluru

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Praveen Togadia

Bengaluru: Senior VHP leader Praveen Togadia has been barred from entering Bengaluru from February 5 to February 10.

Bengaluru police commissioner M N Reddi has issued a notice to Togadia prohibiting him from entering the city.

The VHP leader was scheduled to attend ‘Hindu Virat Samavesha’ convention on February 8 in the city.

The ban came in the wake of provocative speeches made by Praveen Togadia in the past.

Sources said that VHP is planning to organise ‘Ghar Wapsi’ after the convention on February 8.

(Agencies)

VHP leader Sadhvi Prachi stokes fresh controversy with communal rants

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Badaun: VHP leader Sadhvi Prachi has stoked fresh controversy by making inflammatory remarks on the issue of ‘love jihad’ and defending her statement that Hindu women should have four children.

“They are trapping our daughters through ‘love jihad’. These people who give birth to 35-40…. Are spreading love jihad….. They are trying to make Hindustan into Darul Islam.

“When I made the remarks, it was as if the country was hit by a quake. The media said you have sparked an uproar with your remarks on four children. I said I have only advocated four children for Hindus not 40…. And it is important because the country needs it,” the saffron clad leader said at a function organised here by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) which “felicitated” Hindus who have more than four children.

Prachi had contested the 2012 Assembly elections on BJP ticket from Purkazi constituency in UP. She was among persons accused of inciting riots through their provocative speeches in Muzaffarnagar in 2013 and was later granted bail.

The latest hate speech came despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s warning to party leaders to restrain from making controversial comments which can overshadow his government’s agenda of development and economic reforms.

The BJP was quick to distance itself from Prachi’s remarks, saying the party does not agree with such views and is not interested in discussing any such issue.

“The BJP does not agree with any such comment. We do not think that the comments are correct. BJP does not want to discuss any issue other than good governance and even the people are not ready to accept any such discussion.

“Under such circumstances, there is no significance of such remarks,” said chief of BJP’s Uttar Pradesh unit Laxmikant Bajpai.

He asserted that the leader was not speaking at a party platform.

Prachi felicitated 20 persons, who had more than four children at the ‘Virat Hindu Sammelan’ organised by VHP here yesterday. Those “honoured” included Dwarika Singh, who have 11 children, Rampal Singh and Surnam Singh, who have nine children each.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Sadhvi Prachi said, “Why family planning is implemented for Hindus only.”

On “Ghar Wapasi”, she said that if 1,400 years ago everyone was Hindu, “UP Urban Development Minister Azam Khan, Jama Masjid’s Imam Bukhari, former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and Yusuf Raza Gilani should also do ghar wapasi”, a term used for reconverting into Hinduism.

Prachi said that she was not against love but against “Love Jihad”.

“A campaign is being run to trap Hindu girls in the name of love,” she said.

The sadhvi had drawn criticism last month over her remarks that Hindu women should have four kids.

“Earlier we used to say ‘hum do hamare do’. But now we have started saying that ‘sher ka bachcha ek hi achha’ (for a lion, one offspring is enough). This is wrong,” Prachi had said at a gathering in Bhilwara.

“If there is one child, where all will you send him? To protect the border… Or make him a scientist or he will take care of business…. So, we need four children. One can go to protect the borders, one can serve the society, give one to the saints and one to VHP to serve the nation and protect the culture. This is very important,” she had said.

Demanding a law to ban forced conversions, Prachi had supported the VHP’s ‘Ghar Wapsi’ or reconversion programme.

“If a son is angry due to the some reason and leaves the house, should he not be allowed to return. Should the family not accept him?

“That’s why ‘Ghar Wapsi’ should be supported,” she said.

Earlier, BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj drew criticism when he asked Hindu women to have at least four children, with the opposition accusing BJP of trying to polarise the atmosphere.

BJP on its part had distanced itself from the remarks of Maharaj, who was also served a show cause notice, and urged its workers and public representatives to refrain from making such comments.

(PTI)

VHP to organise 'Ram Mahotsava' for building temple in Ayodhya

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Lucknow: Seeking to “mobilise Hindus” and “remind them of their resolve” for construction of a Ram temple, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) is planning to organize ‘Ram Mahotsava’ for the first time on the lines of Durga Puja aross the country.

“We will celebrate Ram Mahotsava from March 21 or March 22 and it will continue till April 1. This will be for the first time that such an event is being organised by the organisation,” VHP Media incharge Sharad Sharma said today.

This programme would be organised in every village in the country, he said.

“It will give strength to Ram Janmbhoomi movement. The programme will not only be organised in villages where temples are located, but at those places also where there is no such arrangement,” Sharma told PTI here.

“During the Mahotsava, two to two-and-a-half feet tall statues of Lord Ram will be worshipped for 10 days as it is done during Navratras. These statues will either be enshrined permanently or immersed,” he said.

He said Hindus have already been asked to take a pledge for construction of the temple.
“But strengthen the resolve and to ensure that it is fulfilled, people will be asked to renew their pledge,” Sharma said.

“We plan to reach 1.5 lakh to 2 lakh villages across the country. In Uttar Pradesh and Uttrakhand, we will make efforts to reach each and every village,” he said.

The VHP media in-charge said that the organisation has planned 600 Hindu Sammelans or conclaves across the country.

(Agencies)

VHP continues its ‘Ghar Wapsi,’ reconverts 17 Christians in Kottayam

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File photo

File photo

Kottayam: Continuing with its ‘Ghar Wapsi’ programme, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Thursday reconverted about 17 Christians to Hinduism in Kottayam district.

There were unconfirmed reports yesterday that the Hindu outfit would stage mass conversion events at several places on Christmas day, mainly targeting Dalit Christians.

On Wednesday, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said there had been no forceful conversions in the state.

Kerala all these years has steered clear of any controversy when it came to forced religious conversion, Chandy said.

Chandy was responding to a question on the reported conversion of 35 people from Christianity to Hinduism in two Kerala districts last Sunday.

“We have always steered clear of any such happenings and there has been no forceful conversions in our state. If anyone decides to convert, it’s their decision. If there is a need for any government intervention, it would be done, but for that to happen, there has to be forceful conversion and it does not take place here,” he said.

The peculiar situation in Kerala is that Hindu SC/ST people enjoy government reservations which are not open to Christian SC/ST people.

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