Author: Express News Service
Publication: ExpressIndia.com
Date: November 4, 2008
URL: http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/cong-man-with-a-saffron-heart-nsui-leader-punished-for-supporting-sadhvi/381153/
Introduction: Rana had launched Vishwa Hindu
Seva Samiti; his mother is the state INTUC vice-president
Nirav Rana, who announced the new Hindu outfit,
the Vishwa Hindu Seva Samiti (VHSS) in support of Sadhvi Pragya, here on Sunday,
has turned out to be major embarrassment for the Congress.
Nirav is the acting vice-president of the
National Students' Union of India (NSUI) - the students' wing of the Congress
in Surat. Besides, Urmilla Rana, his mother, an ex-Congress councillor, is
the vice-president of the Gujarat unit of the Indian National Trade Union
Congress.
Nirav had organised a press conference on
Rander Road over sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur's arrest by the Mumbai ATS for
her alleged role in the Malegaon blast. Nirav also declared full support of
the VHSS members to the sadhvi.
His mother also said his son was right in
his actions. "My son took a decision and expressed his feelings. We are
Hindus and so we should fight to protect ourselves. Sadhvi Pragya is innocent.
Various tests like brain mapping and polygraphy among others were conducted
on her but nothing came out of them. She should be released," she said.
The news of the press conference spread like
wild fire in the city on Sunday afternoon. The city NSUI members were shocked
to learn about Nirav's role in organising the event.
NSUI Gujarat president Indra Vijaysinh Gohil
suspended Nirav for six years following this event, after taking permission
from senior NSUI authorities.
Gohil said: "Nirav Rana has acted against
the NSUI ideology. He can only air his views on students' issues and not on
other topics. He cannot join another organisation or Samiti. Pragya was an
active leader of the Akhil Bharitya Vidhyarti Parishad (ABVP) and Rana cannot
lend support to her as they are our rivals. Terrorists have no religion and
the issue of sadhvi Pragya's involvement is under investigation."
Surat NSUI general secretary Anup Rajput said:
"We have received many complaints against Nirav in the past about his
anti-NSUI ideology. Several complaints were registered against him in different
police stations in Surat."
He said a person who is committed to the NSUI
cannot take the president's post in any other organisation and if he/she wants
to do so, they have to take due permission from the higher authorities. "We
are satisfied with the decision taken by our higher authorities. This move
will make NSUI members more alert and not let them get involved in other activities,"
he said.
Rana could not be contacted following his
suspension from the NSUI.
Embarrassed, Surat city Congress president
Sunil Bhukhanwala further said: "The statements of Urmilla and her son
Nirav are against secularism. I have reported to Congress state general secretary
Girish Rana about the statements. Both should be expelled from the party.
Urmilla and her son are frontline office bearers of INTUC and NSUI and they
should not give statements in support of sadhvi Pragya Singh."