The Hindu : Singhal flays NDA on Hindu agenda

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 14, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Singhal flays NDA on Hindu agenda

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, JAN. 13. Ashok Singhal, International Working President of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, on Tuesday ridiculed the BJP-led NDA Government for setting aside the Hindu agenda, saying nothing more could be expected from a "khichdi sarkar" (a Government comprising varied political groups).

Addressing a press conference in connection with a three-day meeting of the Board of Trustees of the VHP that began here today, Mr. Singhal said his organisation would pressure all political parties to adopt an agenda that respects the sentiments of 75 percent of the population.

"We will make them speak out openly and include it in their manifesto as a political party not having faith in it is bound to fail. It is going to be a fight between Hindutva and secularism, which we reject and throw it out lock, stock and barrel. Our sants have chalked out a special programme of taking the Hindu agenda to the villages," he added.

He was also critical of the BJP's stand that it would go to the next general elections on the strength of development. "Development is not something that is confined to what is achieved outside. It has more to do with the heart and mind of individuals, as enshrined in Hindu philosophy."

Mr. Singhal spoke of the VHP's efforts "to bring closer people subscribing to two great faiths -- Buddhism and Hinduism -- the two non-aggressive religions." Hindus would be asked to participate in a big way in the Buddha Jayanthi programme.

Apart from the Hindu agenda, the VHP Board meeting here would discuss issues like Ram Janma Bhoomi and cow protection. It would also review the VHP programmes led by sants in various countries and activities in various parts of the country.

There was no question of stopping the Ram Janma Bhoomi programme till the goal of building Ram Temple was achieved. It had taken up a programme of tying "sankalp sutra" to people in over one lakh villages.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh