Author: R.S. Narayanaswami
Publication: Organiser
Date: April 9, 2006
URL: http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=125&page=35
A mammoth gathering of Hindus has called for
a total ban on conversions and cow slaughter, enactment of a uniform civil
code and crushing of Islamic terrorism. The Hindu Resurgence Conference organised
by the Tamil Nadu Vishva Hindu Parishad in association with the Grama Kovil
Poojaris Conference at Erode on March 19 demanded a legislation to facilitate
the reconstruction of Shri Ram temple at Ayodhya. The conference strongly
opposed reservation on religion basis. The conference also demanded the release
of Hindu temples from the government control in southern states and autonomous
boards to manage them. Over three lakh people, including thousands of Grama
Kovil Poojaris, attended the conference, which was presided over by Shri Vishvanath
Kakkan, a harijan advocate.
The conference exhorted the Hindus to vote
only for those parties and leaders who promised protection of Hindu rights.
Though we are 85 crore, we are humiliated and neglected since we take pride
in our caste identity and not in our Hindu identity. Hindus would be strong
only if all think themselves as Hindus and as belonging to the greatest civilisation
of the world," said Shri Ashok Singhal, VHP president while addressing
the conference.
Shri Singhal said for over 1000 years the
Hindus had been invaded, humiliated and ruled, their sacred temples had been
destroyed, their women had been molested and properties plundered and sacred
cows butchered in lakhs. Because of the weakness of Hindus, a 'secular' state
have the guts to take over only the Hindu temples. Hindus have to launch a
struggle to get their Ram temple back, he added. "Our religious books
do not recognise untouchability or discrimination. The time has come for eliminating
untouchability by going from village to village and preaching against it.
These social evils had crept into our life and weakened Hindus and impaired
their unity over the centuries," he said. Shri Singhal exhorted every
Hindu to think, speak and act as Hindus and thereby make the majority strong,
powerful and proud and end the humiliation, which is showered on the Hindus
by the secularists. "This Erode conference sounded the awakening call
to a sleeping Hindu society. Hindus must wake up to know the threats and meet
them," he added.
The head of Perur Mutt, Santhalinga Ramaswami
Adigal, Kumara Gurupara Swamigal of Kumara Mutt, the head of Tirupanandal
Mutt, Kasi Vasi Muthukumara Swamigal, Swami Kamalathmananda of Ramakrishna
Mutt, Sathyajotha of the Art of Living movement and Narayani Amma of Narayani
Amma Siddhar Peetam were the prominent religious leaders who graced the conference
by their presence. The massive conference obtained great significance by the
presence of RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri K.S. Sudarshan and Dr Subramanian Swamy.
In his speech, Shri Sudarshan averred that
there is no equal to the Hindu civilisation. Our great seers thought and spoke
in terms of the soul (atma) while the westerners thought in terms of man's
body only. Body was concerned with materialistic needs and the West started
catering to them resulting in great competition between societies and nations.
This materialistic competition might also lead to another war, he said. The
power of the soul is great and the Hindus must stand untied to meet the challenges
and threats, he added.
Dr Subramanian Swamy was forceful in condemning
the discriminatory policies of the central and state governments in the name
of secularism. It is a pity that the majority has to hold conferences for
protection. He deplored that every effort is being made to release Madani
of Kerala, but not one in Parliament spoke for Shankaracharya. He condemned
the distorted teaching of Indian history by a blackout of Muslim atrocities
for 700 years. He said a council of religious heads must be formed and its
views must be sought by the secular state while changing Hindu laws.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Pravin Togadia,
VHP general secretary, said that lack of unity among Hindus has weakened the
Hindus. He strongly condemned conversions to Christianity. Instead of conversion
of Hindus, the Christian world should join hands with the 90 crore Hindus
to fight against Islamic jehad, which posed a greater threat to both Hindus
and Christians. Dr Togadia said in all other nations the government goes by
the interests of the majority but in India, the majority's interests and rights
are ignored and the minorities are appeased. Hindus must decide the destiny
of the nation and this could happen only when the Hindus stood united and
asserted.
Smt Chandraleka, former IAS officer and president,
State Janata Party, came down heavily on the minority appeasement policies
of the governments and political parties. Earlier S. Vedantam, vice president
of VHP, referred to the plight of Hindus and emphasised the need for creation
of a Hindu vote-bank. The conference culminated in a mammoth procession through
the main roads of Erode, which was witnessed by a large number of people.
A sight for gods
The conference began in a very huge tin sheet
pandal after homam and yajna. Men and women in colourful costumes came from
all parts of the state by all modes of conveyance, unmindful of the hardships.
The conference area was well illuminated.
The massive dais had wonderful and artistic decoration.
The delegates were peaceful and disciplined
when many of the speeches were made in Hindi.
The greatest significance lay in the Hindu
conference taking place in the fountain spring of the atheistic Dravidian
ideology, Erode.
The venue looked like an Indra Durbar, a sight
for gods.
