Vishwa Hindu Parishad

Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Ashok Singhal dies

November 17, 2015 by Nasheman

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)

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

November 11, 2015 by Nasheman

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)

VHP rakes up demand for Ram temple construction in Ayodhya

October 1, 2015 by Nasheman

New Delhi: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Wednesday made a renewed pitch for the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya and announced a seminar, to be held in January, on how to work toward a legal solution to the issue.

VHP leader Ashok Singhal, however, did not blame the Narendra Modi government for not making any move to construct the temple, despite a BJP majority government at the Centre.

“The Supreme Court has to pronounce its judgment on the matter, and the government too has to wait,” he said.

The VHP’s aim is to draw attention to the significant legal victories already in its kitty on the issue and how to move forward, he said.

The seminar would be held under the aegis of the Arundhati Vashisth Anusandhan Peeth, an affiliated organisation of the VHP.

Legal hurdles

Dr. Swamy said that he had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on how to remove legal obstacles on the route to building the Ram temple and had “received an acknowledgement of the letter” but not a reply.

“I have also written to BJP president Amit Shah for calling a special session of the national executive.”

(Agencies)

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

June 22, 2015 by Nasheman

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

April 7, 2015 by Nasheman

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)

BJP's Sadhvi Prachi calls for boycott of Khan triumvirate, slams Mother Theresa

March 3, 2015 by Nasheman

Dehradun: Suggesting that films starring Bollywood actors Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan and Salman Khan are spreading a ‘culture of violence’, BJP MP Sadhvi Prachi advised youngsters not to idolise the triumvirate.

Speaking at a programme of Vishwa Hindu Parishad here yesterday, the Sadhvi, known for stoking controversies by her statements, said once she had been to a programme in Meerut where she asked a young boy what he wanted to become in life.

“He said he wanted to become like Hritik Roshan, Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan. When I asked why, his mother told me because they are good at doing stunts,” she said.

Calling for a boycott of the Khan triumvirate’s films by the right wing Hindu outfits, she said, “I, for one, would ask the Bajrangis to make a bonfire of the posters of films of Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan.”

Sadhvi Prachi also accused Mother Teresa of proselytising in the name of service like all missionaries do.

“Mother Teresa indulged in conversion by luring people over to Christianity under the pretext of service,” she said.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had also made similar remarks saying that Christianity was the main objective behind Mother Teresa’s service to the poor.

“Mother Teresa’s service would have been good. But it used to have one objective, to convert the person, who was being served, into a Christian,” he had said while speaking at a function organised by NGO Apna Ghar.

(Agencies)

Congress launches 'Bharatiya Hindu Parishad' to counter VHP

January 15, 2015 by Nasheman

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.

Puttur Congress leader seeks high command’s nod for Bharatiya Hindu Parishad to counter BJP's Hindutva agenda

January 7, 2015 by Nasheman

Mangaluru: Even as the former union minister B Janardhana Poojary has warned against forming a Hindu outfit to strengthen the Congress party, a party activist from Dakshina Kannada has now sought high command’s nod for the Bharatiya Hindu Parishat (BHP).

Hemanath Shetty, the Puttur block Congress president, who has floated the BHP, as an alternative to the Vishwa Hindu Parishat (VHP), has expressed hope that party the party leaders in Delhi would consider his request.

Mr Shetty, who met KPCC leaders in Bengaluru on Tuesday, told reporters that he would soon meet senior Congress leaders in Delhi to get their support for the BHP.

“I will make an effort to convince them as to why the Congress should make an effort to create an impression that it is not against Hindus and BJP/VHP does not own Hindus,” he said.

Meanwhile, B Ramanath Rai, the district in-charge minister for Dakshina Kannada said that he had nothing to do with BHP. “Even the Congress party has nothing to do with it,” he added.

Mr Shetty said that the BJP and VHP had been successful projecting themselves as pro-Hindu outfits.

“But, all Hindus do not identify themselves with these two organisations. Hence, there is a need for the Congress to show that it is also with people of all religions including Hindus,” he said.

The activities of BHP would be spread to Udupi and Kodagu after Dakshina Kannada. Vishnu Sahasra yaga would be conducted as part of the launch and Yedaneeru Mutt Keshavananda Bharati Swamiji has been invited for the programme, he said.

Poojary lambasts speaker; says, Congress never formed Hindu outfit in Karnataka

January 6, 2015 by Nasheman

Mangaluru: Expressing his ire towards Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa for his criticism of the Congress-led state government, veteran Congress leader B Janardhan Poojary questioned the authority of the former to criticise the government which is the job of the opposition in the legislative assembly.

Addressing media persons at a press conference here on Monday, the former union minister said that it was the duty of a Speaker of the Assembly to perform his duties without any discrimination. “To point out the shortcomings of the government, there exists the opposition in the Legislative Assembly. Those who served as Assembly Speakers have upheld the respect and dignity of the post. Have you forgotten that there are rules of procedure during sessions in the assembly?” he questioned Mr Thimmappa.

He also questioned the latter why he had not set things right in the health ministry when he had been the state health minister earlier. People are of the opinion that he is criticising the government since he was not given the portfolio of health ministry, said Mr Poojary.

He also reproached Prime Minister Narendra Modi for remaining silent when certain ministers from his Cabinet made communally-inflammatory remarks. Soon, the country which is being run by Modi will be run not from New Delhi, but from Nagpur, he said, urging the union government to concentrate on developmental schemes instead of their Hindutva agenda.

When asked about the Hindutva organisation reportedly floated by the Congress in Puttur taluk, Mr Poojary said that the Congress district president Ramanath Rai had already clarified that there were no such developments by the party. “If the organisation was to be launched as part of Congress, have they taken permission from the AICC?” he demanded.

“If such a thing occurs, we will all have to commit suicide,” he jested.

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

December 25, 2014 by Nasheman

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.