Puttur: Under the leadership of Congress leaders, a pro Hindu outfit, ‘Bharatiya Hindu Parishad’ was inaugurated here on Wednesday January 14, even as debate in favour of and against creating such an organization rages on within the party. It is said that similar initiatives are being undertaken at various cities and towns by the party, reportedly at the behest of All India Congress Committee vice president, Rahul Gandhi, who has realized that his party has been facing a reversal of fortunes because of losing patronage of Hindus.
The said organization has been created under the leadership of block Congress president, A Hemanath Shetty. During the open debate on the desirability of giving birth to an outfit exclusively to cater to Hindu vote bank, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, Dr G Parameshwar, and former union minister, B Janardhana Poojary, had stoutly opposed the move, as they feel that it is opposed to the secular principles to which the party is committed. Udupi district in-charge minister, Vinay Kumar Sorake, also clarified when questioned by press persons in Udupi on Wednesday that his party does not need such organizations, as it protects interests of people from all the religions.
Bharatiya Hindu Parishad, which took birth on Wednesday, has pledged support to the construction of the temple dedicated to Rama at Ayodhya, and is opposed to religious conversions. It wants to undertake study about why religious conversions take place.