The Hindu : Other States / Uttar Pradesh News : Tandon criticises VHP for `weakening' BJP

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Tuesday, Nov 23, 2004

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Tandon criticises VHP for `weakening' BJP

KANPUR, NOV. 22. The Leader of the Opposition in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly and senior BJP leader, Lalji Tandon, today charged the VHP with trying to weaken his party.

Mr Tandon said the criticism of the BJP by the Parishad would weaken the Hindu interests which had been ``endangered'' due to the arrest of Kanchi Kamkoti Peeth Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati by ``secularists forces''.

Talking to mediapersons after addressing the day-long dharna against the arrest here, Mr Tandon said the majority community in the country had always remained divided, which helped the Muslim invaders and Britishers to rule the country for several 100 years.

He observed if Hindus remained divided, these forces would again rule the country.

In reply to a question, Mr Tandon said the BJP was the only party, which never compromised with casteist and communalist forces and fought them to ``safeguard'' the Indian culture.

``The Shankaracharya's arrest by the Jayalalithaa Government has been done under the directive of the Centre and the Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil, cannot disown the responsibility for hurting the Hindus' sentiments,'' the BJP leader added.

Earlier, addressing BJP workers, Mr Tandon criticised Christian missionaries and said they were luring poverty- stricken people by opening schools and hospitals and forcing conversions.

``Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who is virtually ruling the country, and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa are encouraging the missionaries to weaken the interests of majority community,'' he asserted.

UNI

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