Ayodhya Temple Not High on Global Hindu Meet Agenda

[Guest guest]

ALLAHABAD, Feb 12, 2007 (IANS): The three-day global meet organised

by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) that began here Monday focussed

more on the need for a "united Hindu society" while the campaign for

the Ayodhya temple did not appear to be high on the agenda.

 

Nearly 200,000 VHP supporters, who gathered on the still drenched

sandy banks along the holy Sangam or confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna

and the mythical Saraswati rivers, appeared to be more concerned

about the caste and other socio-economic barriers that keep the

Hindu society sharply divided.

 

Surprisingly, barring VHP international general secretary Pravin

Togadia, who reiterated VHP's resolve to construct the Ram temple at

Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, even the VHP international president Ashok

Singhal did not lay the usual stress on the issue.

 

A few of the 100-odd saffron-clad sadhus who occupied the elevated

dais in the backdrop of huge pictures of all the major Hindu Gods -

Shiva, Ram, Krishna, Hanuman and Goddess Durga - did talk about

Ayodhya, but it was more in the nature of a passing reference

without the rhetoric earlier attached to the emotive issue.

 

Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) chief K.S. Sudarshan also focussed

on the theme of "Hindu unity." Only towards the fag end of his long

speech, did he say: "It is important for Hindus to not only remain

united but to also vote in a united way."

 

His sentiment was echoed by firebrand VHP leader Sadhvi

Ritambhara. "Remember the elections are not very far and this time

when you all go to vote you must vote for one particular party; do

not allow your vote to get divided," the saffron-clad vociferous

Hindu hardliner Ritambhara told the crowds amid loud applause.

 

It was Togadia who set the tone for the day by emphasising upon the

need for unity. "If Hindus were united then a Mogul Babur would not

have been able to pull down the ancient Ram temple in Ayodhya nor

would the Mahmud of Ghazni have succeeded in ravaging the Somnath

temple or other Hindu shrines," he said.

 

"It was in that light that I wish to call upon Hindus to resolve

here on the banks of the holy Sangam to cut across all barriers and

forge a unity that could pave way for the creation of a true Hindu

nation," declared Togadia.

 

Singhal went a step further by reiterating his oft-repeated call for

reunification of today's "divided" India into what he described as

Akhand Bharat, or Undivided India comprising Pakistan and Bangladesh.

 

Opposing the government policy on family planning, he urged people

to not only have at least four children but to also give up the

social evil of female foeticide.

 

Earlier, the event began with the lighting of a lamp by Jagadguru

Shankaracharya Swami Vasudevanand Saraswati of Jyotirpeeth.

 

The meet was to begin Sunday but a heavy downpour delayed its start.

 

Besides large contingents from most Indian states, about 300 non-

resident Indians (NRIs) from 16 countries are participating in the

event.

 

SOURCE: News India. By IANS.

URL: http://in.news./070212/43/6c11p.html