Don’t side with Muslims on Ram temple issue, VHP tells BJP

Senior vice-president Acharya Giriraj Kishore doesn’t mince words as he criticises the BJP for not doing enough to protect the Hindus and giving Christians and Muslims a free run in destruction of the country. And even before one hears the VHP leaders talk, their ideologies are on display in form of books and video cassettes on sale.

The Real Story of Babri Masjid Demolition, The Proof of the Temple — containing excavated archaeological evidence of the temple destroyed by Babar in 1528 — The Hindu Mind, Islam — The Arab National Movement and pirated copies of The Dark Side of Christian History by Helen Ellerbe and The Hindu phenomenon by Girilal Jain rub shoulders on the shelves. Also being sold at the venue are bright `Om’ stickers and key rings and colourful posters of Shivaji, Maharana Pratap and the Krishna-Arjun battlefield scene from the Mahabharata.

The five-day-long conference (July 20-24) has already resolved to go ahead with the construction of the Ram temple, irrespective of the Government’s avowed stance on the issue. The VHP has also issued a word of caution to the BJP and other political parties, warning them not to “side with the Muslims on the issue”.

“A subsequent meeting of the Dharma Sansad will decide the formal date of starting construction in January 2001 during the Kumbha mela. The Marg Darshaks will also meet in October this year in Goa,” Giriraj Kishore told The Indian Express. According to a senior VHP office-bearer, more than Rs 8.25 crore has already been collected for construction of the temple. “So far, we have only been using the interest accruing from it,” he says. The stone-cutting work is in full swing and will be completed for the ground floor by March 2001, he added.

The meeting today discussed the Jammu and Kashmir autonomy issue and “harassment of Hindus by Christian missionaries” in Tripura, with VHP leaders finding Government action wanting on both matters. “The Government has to deal with the demand for autonomy very strictly, not with kid gloves. This way they are playing into the hands of the US, which wants a base in J-K against China, Afghanistan and Pakistan,” Giriraj Kishore said.

On the Tripura issue, he said that the Hindus were being hounded out of the state by the missionaries who had an abundance of foreign funds. “In their own land, the Hindus can’t offer prayers in a manner they want. We also have reports that missionaries are using their money to purchase weapons and aiding militants,” he said.

“We are telling the Government to pull up its socks and protect the Hindus. We cannot pick up guns and swords to fight. We can only tell the Government,” the senior leader said.

The VHP, incidentally, is also critical of the government’s handling of the Tehri dam issue. “We don’t need this or any other dam for that matter. Tehri dam will destroy the original quality and beauty of the river Ganga. Our `sant jan’ are also launching `Ganga Raksha’ — a protes against building of the dam on July 26,” Giriraj Kishore added.