The Hindu : VHP criticises Government policy towards Muslims

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 23, 2004

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VHP criticises Government policy towards Muslims

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MARCH 22. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad said today that the ongoing "maha yagya" in Ayodhya, which started on Sunday, was aimed at three things — creating awareness of Hindutva, support for a Ram temple, and "hriday parivartan" (change of heart), but was in no way connected with the coming elections.

Giriraj Kishore, senior VHP leader, said that VHP cadre would be free to canvass for "any candidate" who agreed with the Parishad's 11-point agenda. "The VHP will not support or do propaganda for any political party," he said. But he admitted that senior VHP leaders had supported the recent RSS resolution adopted in Jaipur saying that the organisation and its cadre would support the BJP and work for its victory. "We supported that resolution as RSS swayamsevaks, but as VHP we have our own agenda," Mr. Kishore said.

Mr. Kishore came down heavily on what he called "government policy" towards Muslims. "They [the BJP] are saying that Muslims are coming closer to the BJP as they have had a change of heart. The results of this policy will not be good. Let it be remembered that even a man like Mahatma Gandhi was not able to `change hearts'," Mr. Kishore said.

Asked whether the VHP was against the Prime Minister's peace initiative in relation to Pakistan, Mr. Kishore said he had talked about "government policy" and had not said anything about the Prime Minister or his initiative.

On the "Bharat Udhay yatra," he was categorical that no VHP person would share the podium with Mr. Advani when the "yatra" travelled through Ayodhya. The cadre were free to do what they wanted, but VHP leaders would certainly join the public meeting Mr. Advani was scheduled to address there on April 6.

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