The Hindu : Ban VHP, Bajrang Dal, says Youth Congress

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Oct 20, 2002

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National

Ban VHP, Bajrang Dal, says Youth Congress

By Our Staff Reporter

Youth Congress activists staging a dharna outside the Vishwa Hindu Parishad office in New Delhi on Saturday to protest the alleged derogatory remark against the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, made by the VHP leader, Pravin Togadia. _ Photo: S. Subramanium

NEW DELHI OCT. 19. Demanding an immediate ban on the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal, a large number of Indian Youth Congress activists demonstrated in front of the VHP's central office here today shouting for arrest of the VHP leader, Praveen Togadia, and a public apology from him for using derogatory language against the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi.

Lambasting the Sangh Parivar for ``degrading the culture of the country and vitiating the political atmosphere'', the IYC workers, led by their president, Randeep Singh Surjewala, and IYC's Delhi unit chief, Rajesh Lilothia, gathered in front of the VHP office in the evening demanding senior VHP leaders, including Mr. Togadia, to tender an apology in public.

The three-hour long demonstration ended with the police detaining around 10 of the IYC leaders, including Mr. Surjewala.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Surjewala alleged that baffled by the continuing electoral success of the Congress in different States, the recent one being in Jammu and Kashmir, the Sangh Pariwar was now engaging in character assassination of Ms. Gandhi.

The vulgar language being used by Mr. Togadia in his recent speeches speaks volumes about how VHP leaders had panicked over the success of the Congress and were now trying to create rift in society in the name of religion, caste and nationality, he added.

The IYC chief said the VHP and the Bajrang Dal should be immediately banned, as their involvement in communal riots in Gujarat was evident.

The involvement of local VHP leaders in the massacre of five Dalits in Haryana earlier this week reveals the nefarious designs of these communal parties, he alleged.

Mr. Surjewala also lambasted the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, and senior BJP leaders for not criticising Mr. Togadia on giving such outrageous remarks.

The BJP being the part of Sangh Pariwar outfits was also equally responsible for declining political standard of the country, he added.

The IYC chief claimed that Mr. Togadia was inside the VHP office when the activists reached there but he slipped out through the backdoor.

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