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Rajesh Sinha
JAIPUR, DEC 29: Unmindful of the criticism it was attracting over its recent announcements, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad today revealed plans that were expected to generate more heat.
The VHP announced its intention to send a team of pilgrims without visas to Sharda Peeth, set up by Adi Shankaracharya, in Pak Occupied Kashmir and revealed a plan to resist slaughter on March 29, when Mahavir Jayanti coincides with Bakr-Id.
These announcements came together with condemnation of Mother Teresa and churches, while the charges surrounding Amartya Sen being given the Nobel Prize were toned down.
Questioned by journalists on the Nobel issue again today, VHP international executive president Ashok Singhal denied saying the Nobel Prize to Sen was part of a conspiracy and claimed all he meant was that Sen's prescription would be used as an excuse by Christians to get more funds from abroad for spreading their activities in this country.
However, the allegations against Mother Teresa became stronger. Having accusedChristian organisations of setting up and supporting separatist militant outfits, the VHP today extended the charge to Nobel Peace Prize awardee, the late Mother Teresa.
``She was supporting terrorists in Albania. Even the BBC reported this,'' said VHP international general secretary and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh pracharak Giriraj Kishore. ``I asked a lady in Britain about her and she exclaimed, `Who? that fraud?' '' said Kishore. As for her work here, her only motive was conversion, Singhal and he said. Both refused to call her `Mother'. ``The Britishers referred to Mahatma Gandhi as `Mr Gandhi'. Why should we call her `Mother'?'' asked Kishore.
Singhal said he developed a deep ``hatred for Teresa'' after he learnt of her activities through a girl from Allahabad who had gone to meet her for research work. ``The girl was put up away from Teresa's centre when she mentioned to Teresa that she would not adopt Christianity. By evening, a doctor came to give her an injection, saying Teresa had said the girlwas mentally ill. She had to flee the place to save herself. So many others must have been made insane by such injections,'' Singhal alleged.
Singhal was also annoyed with statements emanating from the BJP. Asked to comment on the BJP dissociating itself with the VHP stand, Singhal vented ire on party spokesman Venkaiah Naidu.
``He issued a statement without consulting us... without knowing the facts. This was a very wrong thing to do. The BJP has its government in Gujarat. They could have asked their government. The Gujarat government has said that it was the Hindus which were being attacked,'' said Singhal.
Earlier, along with the resolution to send a team of pilgrims to Sharda Peeth in PoK, Kishore released copies of another resolution, regarding ``mass conversions of Hindus by Christians'' adopted at today's meeting of the VHP's board of trustees. It read: ``The Christian Churches have announced that the 21st century is for evangelisation of Asia. In this programme, the main target will be theHindus of India. On various platforms, all the Churches lament that only 2 per cent of the Hindus have adopted Christianity, and that 98 per cent still believe in false gods.
``VHP condemns this evangelisation programme which is nothing but a programme of conversion. Cardinals Arinze and Ratzinger have clearly stated that conversion is the prime activity of the Catholic Church. Other Christian churches operating in India have expressed similar sentiments.``The conversion of the people has invariably led to secessionist movements. The funds allegedly brought in India for propagation of Christianity are used for purchase of arms and other equipment to conduct a violent assault on the Indian state.
``In addition, there is a concerted attempt to defame VHP and other Hindu organisations by falsely accusing them of being responsible for the various attacks on Christians. This is being done to hide their true face and divert the attention of the Hindus away from their evangelisation and anti-nationalprogrammes.
``As in the past, the Hindus will face this onslaught with the same vigour to frustrate this programme. VHP will launch a countrywide campaign to counteract this assault not only on the Hindu religion but also on Hindu culture. VHP appeals to all Hindus and nationalist Christians to be aware of the danger that is being faced and support the VHP.''
As for the resolve to send pilgrims to Sharda peeth in POK, Kishore said the territory it lay in did not belong to Pakistan and hence no visas would be asked for. He said the VHP would launch an awareness campaign before undertaking the task and try and get some members of Parliament to go with the pilgrims.
``They shall face bullets if they have to,'' he said. He, however, agreed that the Indian army itself would prevent them from crossing over.
On plans for Mahavir Jayanti and Bakr-Id on March 29, Kishore said the day was one of non-violence for Jains, while for Muslims, it was one of qurbani. Efforts were needed to maintain peace, he said,adding that the VHP apprehended trouble that day, ``but not from the peaceful Jains''. He said the VHP would resist killing of animals that day.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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