Introduction: Vishal Hindu Sammelan in Jammu
Our Special Correspondent
JAMMU: The holding of Vishal Hindu Sammelan coupled with the two-day visit of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader, Shri Ashok Singhal, generated a tot of confidence amongst the minorities in J&K especially of those areas that are badly infected by the Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. The Sammelan was organised by the Jammu & Kashmir unit of Vishwa Hindu Parishad in Jammu recently.
In the Sammelan thousands of people participated from the far-off places of the State to demonstrate their enthusiasm and determination to face the challenge of the situation. Although there were rumour about the terrorist attacks and bomb blasts to scare away the people from the meeting.
This was the second big gathering of Hindus in this city of temples during the past twenty years. The first Virat Hindu Sammelan was held in Jammu for three days in 1981.
The enthusiasm was evident from taking the pledge by raising of their hands by the massive gathering to defeat Pakistan sponsored terrorism and defend every inch of Jammu and Kashmir as an integral part of India.
The pledge was read out by Swami Chinmayanand, BJP MP, which inter alia said: “We would cooperate with the army and other security forces in crushing terrorism. We would not leave our homes and hearth under any circumstances and would be ready to sacrifice our lives and families but would not yield to any threats as was done by Guru Gobind Singh.”
Addressing the huge gathering at the Sammelan, Shri Ashok Singhal made quite some plain-speaking to deal with Pakistan and internal situation in the country. He said that there was no meaning o any talk or meeting with Gen. Musharraf unless Pakistan put an end to cross-border terrorism before any dialogue.
The VHP leader taking clue from the utterance of Pakistani leaders that Pakistan is incomplete without Kashmir, thundered that India is incomplete until Pakistan is destroyed.
He observed that Pakistan was the outcome of hatred against India and this hatred must have to be finished for security and integrity of India.
Referring to the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the VHP leader said that Farooq Government has lost the moral right to be in power after having failed to protect the minorities as lakhs of Hindus have had to face miseries and sufferings by becoming refugees within their own country.
He was highly critical of the authorities for not providing modern weapons and encouraging the Village Reform Committees for fighting out the attacks of the terrorists and foreign mercenaries.
Dubbing National Conference Government “pro-jehadi” and “anti-Hindu”, Shri Ashok Singhal demanded that the Farooq Government should be dismissed to protect the dignity and lives of Hindus and other minorities in the State.
Giving a warning to the NC Government against propagating anti-Hindu policies, Shri Singhal said that VHP would not allow any restriction on the number of Amarnath Yatris and demanded that the State Government should do away with the business of registration of pilgrims bound for Amarnath. He said no where in the country there exists such a procedure barring Jammu and Kashmir.
Shri Singhal observed that the slogans of secularism have assumed menacing situation for the country because for capitalising on their vote-banks the pseudo-secularists were dragging the country to a dangerous situation.
About the construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya, Shri Singhal said that all arrangements were complete and to achieve the goal, the work would be taken up after March 12, 2002.
Swami Chinmayanand Maharaj, member of the Margdarshak Mandal of VHP, in his address opposed any dialogue with Hurriyat Conference in solving Kashmir problem. He said that dialogue was no solution of this problem as terrorism exported by Pakistan was the real cause of the ongoing bloodshed and killing of Hindus in the State.
Coming down heavily on the State Government for its failure to protect the lives of Hindus in the State, he said that the Central Government has extended every possible help to the Farooq Government to contain terrorism 'but this Government has failed its duty.
Dr Surinder Jain, all India convenor of Bajrang Dal, in his address criticised the State Government for its failure in providing security to Hindus residing in the State. He said that time has come to teach Pakistan a lesson as it does not understand the language of peace.
Dr Jain offered trishul to large number of Bajrang Dal activists who administered oath to help security forces in their efforts to wipe out terrorism from the State.
At the Sammelan, a resolution was also adopted for liberation of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and smashing of the terrorist training camps. The resolution alleged that there was a conspiracy to change the demographic character of Jammu, which would have serious repercussions.
During his two-day stay the VHP Working President, Shri Ashok Singhal attended several functions including a reception for him at Dudha Dhar temple here and before his departure, he addressed a press conference also.
At the press conference Shri Ashok Singhal emphasized the need for abrogation of Article 370 granting special status to Jammu and Kashmir as it was the root-cause for many problems in the State, and asked, if Jammu and Kashmir is an integral pan of India, why this discriminatory status?
Shri Singhal expressed concern over the mushrooming of the madrasas in various parts of the country and said that many of these are virtually proving as training centres for jehadis.
About the construction of Ram Temple, Shri Singhal said that it was not an agenda of any particular party but it is a matter of prestige and honour of the Hindus Samaj.
(With inputs from Khajuria S. Kant)