Author: FPJ News service
Publication: The Free Press Journal
Date: October 2, 2002
Continuing its tirade against Prime
Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), the Vishwa
Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Tuesday said India needs strong leaders like George
W. Bush and Arial Sharon , Presidents of America and Israel respectively
to fight terrorists. The country under the present leadership has
proved ineffective.
The VHP general secretary Praveen
Togadia launched the frontal attack o the prime minister 24 hours after
the BJP President M. Venkaiah Naidu urged them to show restrain in criticising
the prime minister and government at the centre.
Undeterred, the VHP stop brass though
a little careful were candid in stating that Indian leadership has failed
to contain terrorism. Asked to specifically comment on Vajpayee the
VHP leader said, "if he wants to fight terrorism he can," leaving it at
that without elaborating. But they were categorical in stating that Islamic
terrorists have encircled entire country. Now we require leaders
like Chatrapati Shivajni, George W. Bush and Arial Sharon to teach the
terrorists a lesson.
Surprisingly, the VHP has also started
glorifying the Chief Minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi. Saying if
our system fails the people will soon start spotting leaders like Narendra
Modi to give jihad a befitting reply. Maintaining that riots in Gujarat
were a reaction to Godhra killings, the VHP leadership urged the government
to act.
The VHP also remained unrepentant
about its president Ashok Singhal's criticism against Vajpayee. Singhal
had held Vajpayee responsible for terrorists strike saying he is not taking
tough stand. Togadia on Tuesday said whatever Singhal said was a
genuine concern by a person who is not only a supporter but an ardent supporter
of BVJP for many decades. It should lead us to self introspection.
I hope they (BJP) would do it." He also said for VHP the confrontation
with BJP over uncharitable remarks made over Vajpayee is a closed chapter.
But from tone and tenor of
the VHP on Tuesday it only re-established there's a design to malign
the prime minister. Although it is not taking name of Vajpayee, the VHP
leaders stating a need for stronger leadership in India only indicates
they want a change of guard at the centre. As they feel Vajpayee has proved
ineffective in handling the problems of terrorism.
The remarks against Vajpayee coming
from VHP top brass a friendly party of the ruling BJP is a pointer to some
renewed thinking inside the right wing organisations.
The VHP also demanded a ban on Madarasas
(traditional Islamic learning schools) all over India. Without substantiating
the charges the VHP leader stated that "Madarasas were breeding terrorists
as the teachings were anti-India." They also claimed that these Madarasas
were getting massive funds terrorists organisations such as ISI.
The VHP leaders also urged the Muslims
in India to abandon the concept of Darul Islam vs Darul Harb; Kafir vs
Mummin (faithful believer) and Jihad vs peaceful coexistence. According
to Togadia Islam has left many things in practice beginning from the concept
of single state and one government for entire Islam world. They have
rejected the Sharia legal system in public affairs and accepted moderate
legal system.
The VHP maintained that "It was
folly to address only superficial issues like Jihad, violence in Kashmir
and attack on Akshardham but have to address and respond ideological religions
forced behind this attacks We have to address global Islamic fundamentalism
pan Indian Talibanisation and role of Madarasas.
