The Hindu : VHP's belief questioned

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 14, 2002

National

National

VHP's belief questioned

By Our Staff Reporter

The CPI (M) leaders Sitaram Yechuri, Harkishan Singh Surjeet, the Rajya Sabha MP, Shabana Azmi, the former Prime Minister, V. P. Singh, and the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi at a rally in protest against the Government's `failure' to prevent the Gujarat violence, in New Delhi on Wednesday. — Photo: V. Sudershan

NEW DELHI, MARCH 13. Cutting across all barriers of class, creed, gender, religion and generation, people from all walks of life came together in the Capital today to march for peace, secularism and communal harmony. Their faith in secular India, shaken by the Gujarat violence, was reaffirmed, even as they walked, with the Supreme Court's verdict, which upheld the Constitution.

The march was by Opposition leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, who made a brief appearance, former Prime Ministers I.K. Gujral and V.P. Singh, the Samajwadi Party's Amar Singh and the CPI leader, A.B Bardhan. Other participants were religious leaders of different faiths.

Shouting slogans like "Khoon ki holi band karo'', "Modi, Advani isteefa do'', and demanding that the VHP be banned, they marched towards Parliament but were stopped at the Jantar Mantar for security reasons.

Questioning the validity of VHP's belief, Swami Agnivesh said: "There is no historical evidence to prove that Lord Ram was born at the disputed site. There are countless Ram mandirs in Ayodhya and there would be at least 15 priests who claim that Ram was born in their temple. Why do we need this 16th temple.''

Echoing the same sentiment, Father Valson Thampu, said: "The need is not for more temples in Ayodhya, but to build the temple of India.''

Blaming the Gujarat Government and the VHP for the riots in the State, the National Chairman of the All India Confederation of SC\ST Organisations, Udit Raj, said: "It is a fight for power. The Muslims are not the only target of the Sangh Parivar; women and Dalits are also vulnerable.''

Praising the Supreme Court verdict, Mr. Gujral urged the Government to face the hour of truth. "The Government must uphold its pledge to the Constitution. The President should ensure that law in Uttar Pradesh is maintained in accordance with the order of the Supreme Court. It is important that the Governor of U.P. discharge his office as the Court demands and his actions and words should reflect this.''

Drawing a distinction between the Godhra killings by "criminals'' and the "State-sponsored ethnic cleansing'' in Ahmedabad, actress-activist Shabana Azmi said: "Modi's claim is that normalcy was restored in a record time of 72 hours. Considering the military precision with which minorities were targeted, the Government didn't need a month.'' Stressing that those guilty must be punished, she added that: "If they are not brought to justice, the message that will go out to people is that if you commit one murder you can be caught, but if you commit mass murder you will be granted amnesty.''

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National