VHP Dharma Sansad — It’s sadhus vs Sangh

On being asked why Shankaracharya of Dwaraka and Jyotishpeeth SwamiSwaroopanand Saraswati was not attending the sansad, VHP Working President Ashok Singhal told this reporter, “He need not to come to us. Wewill go to him for consultations and advice”.

Incidentally, Swaroopanand is a bitter critic of the VHP and he had evenlaunched a Ramalaya Trust in 1991, as a parellel body to the VHP, with plansto construct Ram Temple in Ayodhya. “I cann’t approve of VHP’s plans untilit dissociates itself from the BJP and announces itself as a non-politicaloutfit,” the Shankaracharya told The Indian Express today.

Of the four recognised peeths, Shankaracharya of Sringeri Swami BhartiTirtha has not turned up in the Kumbh while another, SwamiNishchalanand Saraswati of Puri, remains non-comittal. “They should nottake a decision in a hurry or out of emotions. I will consider supportingtheir decision on construction if they consult me before announcing itpublicly,” he says.

A section of Akhada Parishad, a coordinating body of all the 13-sects ofsadhus, too has been opposing the BJP. But then, neither Akhada Parishad norSwaroopanand have ever supported the BJP.

The dharma sansad starting tomorrow is crucial for the Sangh Parivar. TheVHP leaders have been seeking support of Hindu religious leaders includingShankaracharyas and head of various Akhadas. Singhal called on Nishchalanandtwo days ago and shared platform with Swaroopanand at Bharat Sadhu Samajmeeting yesterday. He even sought an appointment with Swaroopanand for 9 p.m.yesterday for a close-door meeting, but did not turn up.

Both the president of the Akhada Parishad Swami Ram Kishore Giri as well asPresident of Bharat Sadhu Samaj Swami Mangalanand under whose chairmanship, Swaroopanand attended a conference yesterday, were members of the 150-members strong Marg Darshak Mandal (steering body) of the VHP meetingtomorrow morning, VHP leaders claim.

“We don’t care about protests if we achieve our purpose of constructing thetemple,” says VHP chief Vishnu Hari Dalmia. When reminded of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s “musings”, he said: “We respect his sentiments but they won’t be binding on us if they conflict with our objective,” he said.

An undettered Swami Swaroopanand has charged Sangh Parivar of doublespeak. The VHP promises to construct temple when it feels people were getting angrywith it. But, as soon as the anger subsides, the BJP says Temple issue wasnot on its agenda, he said. “There is absolutely no difference between RSS, BJP and VHP and all of them are working with a political motive,” he said.

The Shankaracharya said he had his own plans to construct the Ram Temple onthe model of Ankor Vat temple.

Swaroopanand claimed VHP would not announce date for starting Templeconstruction in Ayodhya since it would lead to blood-bath. “When BJPleaders like LK Advani have already admitted that the disputed structure wasdemolished by kar sevaks who went beyond control, what is the guarantee theywould be able to keep workers in check”.

Dalmia equates VHP’s temple programme with Mahabharat. “Its a dharma yudhin which you have to sometimes fight with your own people. Did’t LordKrishna tell Arjuna to fight against his own relatives?” he asks!