The Hindu : Karnataka News : Singhal sees campaign `to denigrate Hinduism'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 10, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

Singhal sees campaign `to denigrate Hinduism'

By Our Special Correspondent

HUBLI, APRIL 9. Ashok Singhal, international working president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), today accused Sonia Gandhi, without naming her, of being responsible for what he termed "the systematic campaign of denigrating Hinduism and Hindu religious leaders."

Speaking at a function organised by the north Karnataka unit of the VHP to administer the "pledge in nationalism" to over 1,500 youth here today, Mr. Singhal said the intention of the campaign is to make people give up Hinduism and convert to Christianity.

Mr. Singhal who never named Ms. Gandhi but kept referring to the "foreign lady controlling the strings of power in New Delhi," saw her hand behind what had happened to the Kanchi acharyas.

According to Mr. Singhal, the refusal by the U.S. Government to give a visa to the Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, was an affront to Hindus and formed part of the strategy.

He criticised the Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, and his Cabinet colleague for "bowing before the American evangelist Benny Hinn" when he organised a programme in Bangalore recently. These forces are abetting efforts to spread Christianity in the country, he said.

Mr. Singhal appealed to the people to be vigilant against the activities of those who are trying to undermine Hinduism, whose main weakness is that it is a divided house. The time has come to close ranks to challenge the assault on Hinduism, he said.

G.H. Naregal, working president of the VHP north Karnataka unit, welcomed the gathering. Pramod Mutalik, convener of the Bajrang Dal in South India, spoke about the pledge that was administered. Basavaraj Doddappa Appa, honorary president of the VHP State unit presided.

Mr. Singhal later inaugurated a `Hindu Bhavan' built by the VHP north Karnataka unit.

`Be prepared'

Replying to questions at an interaction with sadhus mainly drawn from the north Karnataka districts, Mr. Singhal asked the religious heads to be prepared to go to jail if need be for preventing conversion.

He asserted that it was imperative that the conversion of Hindus should be opposed at all costs. One should not mind going to jail for this, he said. The campaign against conversion will have an impact only when it is intensified, he said.

There is no point in remaining mute to the developments taking place, Mr. Singhal said and added that if one did not protest, "we will end up as slaves of the Congress."

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