NEW DELHI: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has said it will strive to bring together everybody working for the cause of the community, seemingly differing from its sister organisation, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, which recently distanced itself from the right wing groups allegedly involved in violence.
VHP’s international working president Pravin Togadia told ET that the organisation will strive to bring together all individuals and organisations working for the Hindu cause and look to create a “sangathit Hindu samaj (united Hindu society)” in the next 10 years.
The RSS had, in the wake of uproar over the lynching of a Muslim man in Dadri and murder of writer MM Kalburgi, among other instances of intolerance, distanced itself from the so-called fringe right wing groups.
“The word ‘fringe’ is a notorious invention of the vested interests groups who have no say in the masses. There is absolutely no dissociation of the Sangh from VHP,” said Togadia.
He said, “Today, when New York or Paris is attacked by the jihadis, the entire world stands together against jihadis. Strangely, for the past many years, we have been explaining the jihadis’ dirty designs to disturb the world peace, and still we were termed ‘fringe’, ‘anti-nationals’.”
Togadia, a cancer surgeon by profession, assumed full responsibility of the organisation in 2011 after Ashok Singhal fell ill. With With Singhal’s passing away last week, he is believed to be in complete control of VHP.
Besides pursuing its demands of building a Ram temple, enactment of a national law banning cow progeny slaughter and conversions, abrogation of Article 370 and introduction of uniform civil code, VHP will strive for a central level Hindu human rights commission and conduct a special drive to inspire Indian youth to join the armed forces, Togadia said.
VHP’s golden vision 2025 drafted by Togadia also includes pursuing its “Practising Hindu, Aware Hindu, Active Hindu” objective by asking families to establish friendly relations with at least one family belonging to a different caste, establishing devotee groups in every district, getting more countries to recognise Hindu curriculum in schools and expanding the network of Ved pundits abroad for Hindu rituals.
“Ram temple is not a sporadic issue for either VHP or for Hindus. It has been a commitment. The Dharma Sansad (VHP’s religious parliament) had made a demand earlier and even now that Parliament should make a law to build Ram temple in Ayodhya. Sarsangchalak Bhagwatji has already said serious attempts must be made to build Ram temple.The Sangh is our maatru sangathan (mother organisation),” said Togadia.
He said VHP is sure that “with the full majority now the current government will definitely go for it, as it is the party’s (BJP’s) commitment too”.
Taking a dig at artists returning their awards, he said, “These are a few intellectuals blaming Hindus for even a drought. Bharat is much bigger and wiser than them. Those who became big heroes earning from the pockets of all Indians are now blaming India. This is plain ungratefulness.”
Asked for his comments on the Narendra Modi government, Togadia said it was too early to make an assessment. “They have just taken charge. There are many issues that they have to handle: international border security, global jihadi terrorism, rising food prices, health costs, farmers’ well-being,” he said. “The government seems to have good intentions. Let us wait and watch what they do rather than pre-judging them in a hurry.”