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Top VHP leaders’ meet begins: Behave, or you'll all be in refugee camps,VHP tells Muslims

22-06-2002

Press Trust of India

Hardwar, UP, Express India: A crucial meeting of VHP central advisory board began on a belligerent note in Hardwar on Saturday morning with its leader Ashok Singhal warning Muslims that "if they continue to take the country towards partition" they would have to stay in refugee camps like in Gujarat.

However, throwing a spanner in the VHP wheel, most akharas (religious schools) in this holy city have boycotted the meeting, alleging the Sangh Parivar outfits of "misusing religious leaders to serve their vested interests".

The VHP leaders also began discussions on a resolution which condemned BJP-led NDA government's suppression of March 15 shila daan programme and demanded enactment of a law to hand over 43 acres of acquired land to Ram Janambhoomi Nyas to facilitate construction of Ram temple.

The two-day meeting of Kendriya Marg Darashak Mandal, the first after March 15 programme, is expected to review the earlier commitment given by the Nyas to the Centre that it would abide by the court verdict on the disputed land. Expressing serious concern over growing Islamic fundamentalism and ISI activity, VHP international working president Singhal claimed the recent communal violence in Gujarat symbolised the first positive response of the Hindus to Muslim fundamentalism in 1000 years.

"Muslims are forced to stay in camps. If they continue to take the country towards partition, they will have to stay in camps across the country," Singhal said.

Singhal also exhorted the religious leaders to mobilise the Hindu community through religious congregations, chanting of lord Rama's name and yagnas and lead the Hindu society in combating conversions, cow slaughter and attempts to divide the majority community.

Religious leaders like Acharya Dharmendra charged the BJP with misusing the Ram temple movement to come to power and later appeasing Muslims by measures such as increasing Haj subsidy. The meeting presided over by former BJP MP Mahant Avaidyanath is being attended by over 200 religious leaders including VHP's Acharya Giriraj Kishore and Praveenbhai Togadia.



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