The Hindu : Singhal flays Centre for `inaction'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 06, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

Singhal flays Centre for `inaction'

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD Dec. 5. Ashok Singhal, international working president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, on Thursday taunted the BJP- led Government for failing to take on the "jehadis,'' saying, "If not the present, the next Government would definitely take action.''.

Addressing a press conference, Mr. Singhal did not elaborate but appeared quite unhappy at the Government's inaction in tackling terrorism, which he termed "open jehad against the country.''

He said the country was passing through a challenging phase, something similar to what happened in 1945-47. "The jehadis' objective is to work for fragmentation and disintegration of the country. They are attacking whatever comes their way including temples and targeting VHP leaders. G. Pulla Reddy, treasurer, is on their hit list. The general secretary of the Gujarat unit of the VHP, was shot at the other day.''

Yet the U.S. and Europe seemed to be least concerned about terrorism India and they continued to support Pakistan, "which trains and sends the terrorists across the border to India.'' When the VHP raises such issues it was branded "fundamentalist,'' simply because, "we want to preserve our culture and dharma.''

Mr. Singhal, who was here to attend a meeting where the VHP service activities in the education and health sectors in remote areas were reviewed, said, it was unfortunate that the press was not covering these activities. An exhibition would be put up after the next meeting in Delhi.

Unlike Christian organisations, which he alleged got foreign funds and were involved in conversion in the name of social service, the "seva'' activities of the VHP included opening of 6,451 single teacher schools and 621 health centres in remote areas. It was also taking up 478 economic uplift programmes and running 64 orphanages in these areas. The VHP took up 808 "other activities'' and had 14,200 `bhajan mandalis'.

He said today's meeting attended by Swami Dayananda Saraswathi, "on behalf of all Sankaracharyas'' felt the need for a federation of service organisations, getting more funds for such activities from "co-religionists'' abroad and seeking 100 per cent tax relief for donations within the country.

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