Skip to main content

Modi govt is "allowing" Babri mosque at Ayodhya to look secular, alleges Togadia, justifies 2002 Gujarat riots

By Our Representative
Wondering whether the Narendra Modi government has taken a sharp U turn to "ensure Babri mosque in Ayodhya and look secular", Vishwa Hindu Parishad chief Pravin Togadia has said that "those associated with the Ram Temple movement" as also "millions of Hindus" in India and abroad are of the view that "despite the full majority", the BJP government has not made "an inch of progress" to build Ram Temple on the disputed site.
Accusing the Modi government of continuing to repeat that, as the Ram Temple case is in the court, it would "wait for the verdict”, Togadia, in a WhatsApp message, recalls that it is the same Modi in 1992 who rode with LK Advani on the rath starting at Somnath Temple "even when the case was still in the court".
Calling the 1992 Ram Temple agitation "historical" with stalwarts like Ashok Singhal, AB Vajpayee, Sadhvi Ritambhara, Mahant Ramchandra, Mahant Avaidhyanath, Uma Bharati and many were present in Ayodhya, Togadia points to how then "Balasaheb Thakre and other Hindu organizations’ heads declared active support and sent their people to Ayodhya".
"The dome fell. Many sacrificed their lives; many under the dome and many by bullets. Many families lost their young earners. Even then, the case was in the court and yet the Sangh Parivar got VHP and BJP to do the agitation of such a huge impact. It was a culmination of years of Hindu awakening", Togadia, who is international general secretary of VHP, says.
Pointing out that it was the impact of the 1992 Ram Temple agitation which ultimately got BJP in power, albeit with other parties, Togadia says, at that time "it was told to Hindus, waiting for a law on Ram Temple", that it could be come up "only when the party would have full majority... Up until 2004, BJP kept on promising the same.
Modi with Togadia: Good old days
Justifying the 2002 riots in Gujarat, in which about 2000 people, mostly Muslims, died, Togadia says, this was the "common public reaction" following the burning alive of 56 Hindus returning from Kaar Seva at Ayodhya in Sabarmati Express in Gujarat’s Godhra, Togadia says, "They were among those millions of Hindus who kept on trusting the promise given by the BJP".
Regretting that "over 300 Hindus were shot dead by Gujarat police’s bullets in 2002", Togadia says, "That was the Government of the then chief minister Modi", noting, even then "Hindus waited for justice..." Today, he adds, the situation is such that "thousands of Hindus are rotting in various jails of Gujarat while cases on Jihadis in Kashmir are being withdrawn", and yet Lord Ram is "in a tent."
Saying that it was "fine" for the BJP then for raising the issue of the law and Ram Temple for wanting Hindu votes, Togadia emphasises, "But now in power, betraying Hindus with such a sharp U turn, giving a meek excuse of a court case", the BJP is "using Hindus to get into power and then throwing them in the dust bean", insisting, it has only fooled "religious Hindus into voting."
Taking issue with those who call him "anti-Modi", one reason why he is "raising such issues", Togadia says, he was a "good friend" of Modi for long, suggesting things have changed now. '"Betraying Hindus has become a fashion to look secular abroad and in New India", he underlines, adding, "Therefore, the demand is to fulfil the promise of the law on Ram Temple in Parliament without wasting any time or giving humbug excuses of the court case..."

Comments

TRENDING

Savarkar 'criminally betrayed' Netaji and his INA by siding with the British rulers

By Shamsul Islam* RSS-BJP rulers of India have been trying to show off as great fans of Netaji. But Indians must know what role ideological parents of today's RSS/BJP played against Netaji and Indian National Army (INA). The Hindu Mahasabha and RSS which always had prominent lawyers on their rolls made no attempt to defend the INA accused at Red Fort trials.

Delhi HC rules in favour of retired Air Force officer 'overcharged' for Covid treatment

By Rosamma Thomas*  In a decision of May 22, 2023, the Delhi High Court ruled in favour of petitioner Group Captain Suresh Khanna who was under treatment at CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, between April 28 and May 5, 2021, for a period of eight days, for Covid-19 pneumonia. The petitioner had to pay Rs 3,55,286 as treatment costs, but the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) only reimbursed him for Rs 1,83,748, on the basis of government-approved rates. 

'Enough evidence' in Indian tradition to support legal basis for same-sex marriage

By Iyce Malhotra, Joseph Mathai, Sandeep Chachra*  The ongoing hearing in the Supreme Court on same-sex marriage provides space for much-needed conversations on issues that have hitherto remained “invisible” or engaged with patriarchal locker room humour. We must recognize that people with diverse sexualities and complex gender identities have faced discrimination, stigma and decades of oppression. Their issues have mainly remained buried in dominant social discourse, and many view them with deep insecurities.

Religious divide 'kept alive' with low intensity communalism in Gujarat's cultural capital

By Rajiv Shah  A fact-finding report, prepared by the Mumbai-based non-profit, Centre for Study of Society and Secularism (CSSS), has cited the Vadodara Ram Navami violence of March 30 as yet another example of how, after the BJP consolidating its hold on political power in Gujarat post-2002 riots and at the Centre in 2014, the nature of communal riots has changed, underlining, as opposed to high-intensity violence earlier, now riots have become “more sub-radar and at a smaller scale, more localized”.

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Our Representative Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

Caste, impact on Ayodhya area 'halting' BJP rulers to act against Brij Bhushan Singh

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  Finally, the #WrestlersProtest has got international attention. The United World Wrestling (UWW),  condemning the treatment and detention of wrestlers and expressing its disappointment over the lack of results of the investigations against Brij Bhushan Singh, accused of sexually harassing women wrestlers, has urged the "relevant authorities to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation."

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Unlike other revolutionaries, Hindutva icon wrote 5 mercy petitions to British masters

By Shamsul Islam*  The Hindutva icon VD Savarkar of the RSS-BJP rulers of India submitted not one, two,or three but five mercy petitions to the British masters! Savarkarites argue: “There are no evidences to prove that Savarkar collaborated with the British for his release from jail. In fact, his appeal for release was a ruse. He was well aware of the political developments outside and wanted to be part of it. So he kept requesting for his release. But the British authorities did not trust him a bit” (YD Phadke, ‘A complex Hero’, "The Indian Expres"s, August 31, 2004)

76% Odisha govt school infrastructure in dilapidated state, 'undermine' RTE norms

By Our Representative  As many as 75.86% (5,421) elementary schools in Odisha do not possess a playground, depriving students of physical activity opportunities. Also, 75.68% (5,408) of schools require minor or major repairing, undermining the norms and standards stipulated in the Right to Education (RTE) Act.

Can India's water management infrastructure address gender vulnerability issues?

By Monami Bhattacharya, Megha Gupta, Mansee Bal Bhargava*  The climatic pattern of the earth is evolving and changing for a very long time, but in the recent times spanning this century, the change has been drastic which has raised serious concerns to all. Climate criss is also clearly manifested as gender crisis where women are more vulnerable besides being more voiceless to raise the issue. India is marked as a highly climate-vulnerable nation. In addition, the gender disparity in the patriarchal society seems deeply and naturally ingrained among all.