The Dharam Sansad (religious parliament), being held for the first time in Gujarat, assumes significance in view of the recent string of attacks against Christian chapels in the state and the Staines murders in Orissa.

Attending the conclave will be about 7,000 sadhus from across the country including 2,000 from Gujarat representing all the 129 sects of the Hindu religion, said VHP general secretary Kaushik Mehta. The Dalai Lama may be present, as well as Ashok Singhal and Sadhvi Rithambara, both known for their inflammatory anti-minority rhetoric.

The conclave will be preceded on February by a meeting of the Margdarshak Mandal (core group) of prominent leaders, who will finalise the agenda for the event. Mehta said that while the conclave wouldcover the construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya, the focus would be on the issue of forced conversions. However, Jaideep Patel, State office-bearer of the VHP, said that the decision to hold the conclave in Ahmedabad had been taken six months ago. ``It has nothing to do with the recent incidents in South Gujarat,'' he said.

He added that the conclave would discuss the implementation of the VHP's Ekal Vidyalaya project, under which it plans to open 110 Hindu missionary schools in Gujarat's tribal areas. The whole event is being organised by VHP while the Karnmukteshwar Mahadev Trust will play the hosts. The trust will simultaneously initiate the rejuvenation of the 1,100-year-old Karnamukteshwar Mahadev temple.