Date:17/12/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/12/17/stories/2004121700821300.htm

National

Manch meeting in Delhi on December 22: Swamy

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, DEC. 16. The Janata Party president, Subramanian Swamy, said today that the first public meeting of the Rashtriya Swabhiman Manch, "a forum of nationalists," would be held in New Delhi on December 22. All like-minded patriots were part of the outfit, which was not a political forum, he added.

The second public meeting will be held around mid-January in Chennai to protest against the arrest of the Kanchi Sankaracharya, Sri Jayendra Saraswathi.

Addressing presspersons here, he said he had invited the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad to join the forum. "I am hopeful they will participate."

"The Manch's main goal is to unite patriotic Indians who accept that the United Progressive Alliance Government is a threat to India's national security," he said.

Dr. Swamy claimed that the case against the Acharya was "bogus and will not stand in any court." He was not in favour of shifting the case out of Tamil Nadu since there were many in the State police who were doing a good job.