Apparently buoyed by the Gujarat poll results, VHP chief Ashok Singhal today asked the Maharashtra Government to reconsider its ‘‘dictatorial’’ ban on Pravin Togadia and Sadhwi Ritambara. ‘‘Else, they will get a slap on their face (munha ki khayenge),’’ he thundered.‘‘Gone are the days when the Sangh Parivar could be suppressed. Any such attempt now would evoke a severe reaction,’’ Singhal told journalists here on Saturday.‘‘Who are they to impose a ban? Is it democratic? It is foolish to compare atmaraksha (self-defence) with jehad. Let the society decide whom they want,’’ Singhal further said. ‘‘Sadhwi Ritambhara’s religious discourses are beginning in Mumbai tomorrow. Let’s see what happens,’’ he added.‘‘The high tide of Hindutva has encompassed the whole country. The secularist Congress doesn’t know in which direction the wind is blowing. Hindu society wants Hindu agenda. Henceforth, force will be met with force,’’ Singhal warned.Terming Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s acceptance of Modi’s invitation to Gujarat as ‘‘a very good gesture’’, Singhal told other political parties to take a cue from it.Singhal concurred with Togadia’s reported view that Muslims will, now on, have the same status in India as Hindus have in Pakistan and Bangladesh. ‘‘What’s wrong in it? You will live here and will also kill our people and attack temples? What’s this all?’’ he asked.
