Author: A Mid Day Correspondent
Publication: Mid-Day
Date: December 23, 2002
URL: http://www.mid-day.com/news/city/2002/december/39835.htm
VHP leader Praveen Togadia today
clashed out at the ban imposed by Congress-led DF government in Maharashtra
on his speaking at public meetings and said the state could go the Gujarat
way.
"Is Miyan Musharraf or Muslim League
in power here that a Hindu leader is prevented from making speeches", Togadia,
International VHP general secretary, told a press conference in suburban
Goregaon where he had come to attend a religious discourse by Sadhvi Ritambhara.
Togadia's reaction followed Maharashtra
deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal's assertion that state government
has imposed a ban on public speeches of Togadia keeping in view their inflammatory
nature.
Togadia said in last four years
he had extensively toured Maharashtra and had given numerous public speeches
but there was no communal tension and even authorities have not registered
any offence against him.
He said ban on his public speeches
might be due to Congress' way of avenging against Hindu leaders following
the party's dismal performance in Gujarat assembly polls. "It is Hindus
that have handed over a crushing defeat to Congress in Gujarat", he said.
"If Maharashtra government imposes
a ban on me, then it will also go Congress way as in Gujarat", Togadia
said. The VHP leader said he had also addressed rallies in other 14 Congress-ruled
states but there were no reports of any communal violence and the governments
there had not registered any case against him.
"If there is anything wrong in my
speech, then the government can prosecute me. Sonia Gandhi can not be my
judge but Indian judiciary can", he said.
Referring to reported ban on his
speeches, Togadia said "bhashan to ham denge (I will deliver speeches)".
Togadia said "dogs are allowed to
bark, donkeys to bray and mice to squeak but in this land of Chhatrapati
Shivaji a Hindu leader is not allowed to deliver speeches".
He also criticised Sonia Gandhi
for targetting Hindu leaders instead of "jehadi forces".
