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'PM has two years to raise Hindutva' (Interview with Ventakesh Aabdev)

'PM has two years to raise Hindutva' (Interview with Ventakesh Aabdev)

Author: Sonal Desai
Publication: The Asian Age
Date: October 30, 2002

Maharashtra VHP state secretary Ventakesh Aabdev will defy chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh's ban
on the party's international secretary Praveen Togadia's entry to the state. Mr Aabdev speaks to Sonal Desai on the party's recent fracas with the Congress and on other issues. Excerpts:

Q.: What is the controversy on Italy ni Kutri all about?
A.: It is not a controversy. The Congress has put those words in Mr Togadia's mouth and given it a political hue. Mr Togadia had not referred to Mrs Sonia Gandhi at all in his speech.

Q.: But Congress workers from all over the country have come down on the streets and staged protests against Mr Togadia? Chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has also asked the police to disallow Mr Togadia from entering the state if he intends to make inflammatory speeches.
A.: Consider the facts. Congress activists gathered outside the VHP office in Grant Road and tried to burn Mr Togadia's effigy. In Pune, they tried to blacken his face and in Nagpur, they attempted to hurl eggs and tomatoes at him. Our people will retaliate. The Congress should be banned. It disturbed law and order on the issue. After the government declared a ban on Mr Togadia, he got invitation from 5,000 activists in Maharashtra to stage meets. He has agreed to address a gathering at four places after Diwali.

Q.: Why has the VHP openly supported Sena chief Bal Thackeray's call to form suicide squads?
A.: Mr Thackeray has called all Indians to lay down their lives. His call is against anti-nationals who attacked the Parliament, the Swaminarayan temple at Akshardham and who tried to disrupt elections in Jammu and Kashmir. His statement should be considered in a broader perspective. He has asked dedicated Indians to come forward and fight jihadis. The government is not taking enough steps and so the majority community will have to step up for its defence.

Q.: Mr Togadia had recently said that 200 people have already enrolled in the suicide squad.
A.: The number has now increased to 3,000 people.

Q.: But is the formation of the suicide squads justified?
A.: Formation of suicide squads does not mean that we we creating riots or acts of terrorism against Muslims. VHP is a socio-cultural organisation, dedicated to the cause of the country. We believe the country comes first and then religion. Suicide squads would be beneficial to the Army, the police and even the government. We would co-ordinate with these agencies before confronting terrorists.

Q.: Why is VHP being compared to fundamentalist groups abroad?
A.: The comparision is not justified. We are a multi-subjective organisation. We have 15,500 branches all over the country. We run 5,106 educational institutes, 467 employment schools, 540 health posts, and 54 social welfare workshops. Which fundamentalist group can boast of such branches?

Q.: Why have you suggested changes in the Quran?
A.: Some things in the Quran are misinterpreted by too zealous minds. Hindus should now independently preach their religion and literature.

Q.: Why does the VHP distribute trishul and swords during their public meets? Both weapons are symbols of violence.
A.: No. Both weapons are symbols of the Hindu dharma. The weapons are only as lengthy as the law will allow. You can't even chop an onion with any of those.

Q.: What was the necessity to float a separate party in J&K?
A.: There were differences in opinion. They did not want a trifurcation. We want a seperate Jammu state for Hindus. At present, terrorists are driving the Hindus away. Hence, a separate Jammu is the only solution to keep infiltrators at bay.

Q.: What is the level of co-ordination between the BJP, VHP and the Shiv Sena? Do you think, ideologically, the VHP and Sena are more similar?
A.: BJP and VHP are siblings. Even as one commits a mistake, the other sibling has a right to correct the mistake. We are equally happy when the Sena or the BJP raises the issue of Hindutva.

Q.: But do you think that the BJP is drifting away from its Hindutva card?
A.: See, it is a coalition government. They have not even raised the issue of Ram Janmabhoomi. They should consider the welfare of the entire nation. Speaking on Hindutva would not make them anti Muslims.

Q.: What do you think about Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee's tenure as Prime Minister?
A.: Very good. But he has only two years to raise the issue of Hindutva.

Q.: Do you have any specific programme for Maharashtra?
A.: Yes. We want to transform the state to a Siddhikshetra. We would launch a three-point programme in which we will appeal to all Hindus to chant the slogan of "Jai Ram Shree Ram Jai Jai Ram" 108 times a day, between December 1 and Feburary 14, 2003. Once the slogan is chanted for 13 crore times, the state would achieve Siddhikshetra. We would then perform yajnas, and hold dharma sabhas.
 


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