News Analysis India

Tag: VHP

  • Congress never opposed Ram temple, BJP, RSS used Babri issue for political mileage: Digvijaya Singh

    Congress veteran Digvijaya Singh on Tuesday alleged that the intention of the BJP, RSS and VHP behind demolishing the Babri mosque in Ayodhya was not to build a temple at the site, but to make it a Hindu-Muslim issue for political mileage.

    In a post on social media platform X, the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister claimed the Congress never opposed the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, but raised question marks over the location of the new temple, where the idol consecration ceremony will take place on January 22.

    “(The Congress) only asked to wait till the court’s decision for the construction (of temple) on the disputed land. Bhoomi pujan on non-disputed land was done during the time of Rajiv ji (former PM Rajiv Gandhi). (Ex-PM P V) Narasimha Rao ji had also acquired non-disputed land for the construction of Ram temple,” Singh said. He alleged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) had to demolish the mosque anyway, but their intention was not to build a temple at the site.

    “…Because, until the mosque is demolished, it does not become a Hindu-Muslim issue. Destruction is in their behaviour and character; taking political advantage by spreading unrest is their strategy,” said the Rajya Sabha member, hitting out at the saffron organisations.

    When contacted, state BJP spokesman Pankaj Chaturvedi dubbed Singh as “Ram drohi” (anti-Lord Ram) and claimed the Congress leader and his party were against Sanatan Dharma. He said the erstwhile Congress-led UPA government, in an affidavit submitted in the Supreme Court, had called Lord Ram an “imaginary” figure. Singh should clarify how long he will continue to be “anti-Sanatan Dharma and Ram drohi”, asked Chaturvedi.

  • Internet services suspended in communal riots-hit Nuh till August 28 amid calls for VHP’s yatra

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: The Haryana government on Saturday ordered the suspension of mobile internet and the bulk SMS services in the communally charged Nuh till August 28 in view of the call for a ‘Shobha Yatra’.

    The government announced the decision apprehending the spread of rumours through social media by anti-social elements ahead of or during the rally called to be held on Monday.

    The suspension order was issued by Additional Chief Secretary (Home) T V S N Prasad on Saturday.

    The Haryana government had earlier too suspended the mobile internet services in Nuh after the breaking out of communal clashes.

    Six people, including two home guards and a cleric, had died in the communal clashes that erupted in Nuh when a religious procession of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) was attacked by a mob on July 31.

    “…This order is issued to prevent disturbance of peace and public order in the jurisdiction of district Nuh and shall be in force with effect from August 26, 1200 hrs, to August 28, 2359 hrs..,” the order issued by Prasad read.

    Earlier on Friday, Nuh Deputy Commissioner had written to the ACS (Home) bringing to his notice that there is a call from ‘Sarv Jatiya Hindu Mahapanchayat’ for a ‘Brij Mandal Shoba Yatra’ on August 28 in the district and there is an apprehension of misuse of social media/bulk messages by anti-social elements to disturb the peace.

    “Therefore, it is necessary to suspend all the mobile internet and bulk SMS service in Nuh district to avoid any untoward situation,” the DC wrote, requesting the ACS (Home) to issue necessary directions.

    In his Saturday order, Prasad said there is a clear potential for disruption of public utilities, damage to public assets and amenities and disturbance of public law and order in Nuh through the spread of rumours and inflammatory content through the internet.

    He ordered the temporary suspension of the mobile internet services (2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, CDMA, GPRS), bulk SMS (excluding banking and mobile recharge) and all dongle services provided on mobile networks except voice calls.

    CHANDIGARH: The Haryana government on Saturday ordered the suspension of mobile internet and the bulk SMS services in the communally charged Nuh till August 28 in view of the call for a ‘Shobha Yatra’.

    The government announced the decision apprehending the spread of rumours through social media by anti-social elements ahead of or during the rally called to be held on Monday.

    The suspension order was issued by Additional Chief Secretary (Home) T V S N Prasad on Saturday.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The Haryana government had earlier too suspended the mobile internet services in Nuh after the breaking out of communal clashes.

    Six people, including two home guards and a cleric, had died in the communal clashes that erupted in Nuh when a religious procession of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) was attacked by a mob on July 31.

    “…This order is issued to prevent disturbance of peace and public order in the jurisdiction of district Nuh and shall be in force with effect from August 26, 1200 hrs, to August 28, 2359 hrs..,” the order issued by Prasad read.

    Earlier on Friday, Nuh Deputy Commissioner had written to the ACS (Home) bringing to his notice that there is a call from ‘Sarv Jatiya Hindu Mahapanchayat’ for a ‘Brij Mandal Shoba Yatra’ on August 28 in the district and there is an apprehension of misuse of social media/bulk messages by anti-social elements to disturb the peace.

    “Therefore, it is necessary to suspend all the mobile internet and bulk SMS service in Nuh district to avoid any untoward situation,” the DC wrote, requesting the ACS (Home) to issue necessary directions.

    In his Saturday order, Prasad said there is a clear potential for disruption of public utilities, damage to public assets and amenities and disturbance of public law and order in Nuh through the spread of rumours and inflammatory content through the internet.

    He ordered the temporary suspension of the mobile internet services (2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, CDMA, GPRS), bulk SMS (excluding banking and mobile recharge) and all dongle services provided on mobile networks except voice calls.

  • Nuh violence: ‘Mahapanchayat’ announces resumption of VHP yatra on Aug 28, seeks NIA probe

    By PTI

    PALWAL: A ‘mahapanchayat’ by Hindu outfits at Pondri village in Haryana’s Palwal on Sunday decided to resume on August 28 the VHP’s Braj Mandal Yatra in Nuh that was disrupted after communal violence in July.

    The mahapanchayat also made several demands, which included an NIA probe into the attack on the VHP yatra in Nuh on July 31 and declaring Nuh a cow slaughter-free district.

    At the ‘Sarva Jatiye Mahapanchayat’, participants from Palwal, Gurugram and other nearby places took part, and it was decided that the yatra will resume from Nalhar in Nuh and pass through Firozpur Jhirka’s Jhir and Shingar temples in the district.

    While addressing the event, some Hindu leaders said that Hindus in Nuh, a Muslim-dominated district, be given relaxation in securing arms licences for self-defence.

    At the gathering, Haryana Gau Rakshak Dal’s Acharya Azad Shastri told the youth “not to be afraid of FIRs”.

    “We should immediately ensure getting a licence of 100 rifles in Mewat,” he said.

    The mahapanchayat, attended by some local BJP leaders, was held under the banner of ‘Sarv Hindu Samaj’, in which several Hindu outfits, including the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal, took part.

    It was presided over by Arun Jaildar, a Khap leader.

    Zaildar said the annual yatra, which has remained incomplete, must be completed on August 28.

    The mahapanchayat was originally planned to be held in Nuh district’s Kira village but permission was denied for it in view of the prevailing law and order situation.

    Permission for the mahapanchayat was given in Palwal, Deputy Superintendent of Police (headquarters), Palwal, Sandeep Mor said on Sunday.

    Palwal and Nuh are adjoining districts.

    Six people, including two home guards and a cleric, died in the clashes that erupted in Nuh after the VHP procession was attacked by mobs on July 31.

    Gurugram also witnessed stray incidents of violence.

    VHP leader Devender Singh had earlier claimed that the yatra will resume on August 28 in Nuh after the earlier one came under attack.

    The mahapanchayat also demanded that Nuh district be merged with adjoining Palwal and Gurugram districts, and a survey of losses of shops and homes of Hindus be carried out and they be compensated.

    There should be permanent deployment of Rapid Action Force and four battalions of central forces in Nuh, it sought, and further demanded that cases registered in Nuh against those indulged in violence should be heard in a court outside the district and the arrested accused be lodged in Gurugram or other jail instead of Nuh.

    Rohingyas and people from any other place outside the country living in Nuh should be removed and a law should be made to enforce this, the Hindu leaders demanded.

    It was also demanded that compensation of Rs 1 crore and a government job be provided to the family members of Hindus who died in the Nuh violence and Rs 50 lakh to those injured.

    In the mahapanchayat, Bharat Bhushan, state convener of Bajrang Dal; Anurag Kulshrestha, social media head of VHP; BJP’s Sohna MLA Sanjay Singh, former Palwal MLA Subhash Chowdhary, Nuh BJP former district president Surender Arya and officials of the VHP, Bajarang Dal and other Hindu outfits were present.

    PALWAL: A ‘mahapanchayat’ by Hindu outfits at Pondri village in Haryana’s Palwal on Sunday decided to resume on August 28 the VHP’s Braj Mandal Yatra in Nuh that was disrupted after communal violence in July.

    The mahapanchayat also made several demands, which included an NIA probe into the attack on the VHP yatra in Nuh on July 31 and declaring Nuh a cow slaughter-free district.

    At the ‘Sarva Jatiye Mahapanchayat’, participants from Palwal, Gurugram and other nearby places took part, and it was decided that the yatra will resume from Nalhar in Nuh and pass through Firozpur Jhirka’s Jhir and Shingar temples in the district.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    While addressing the event, some Hindu leaders said that Hindus in Nuh, a Muslim-dominated district, be given relaxation in securing arms licences for self-defence.

    At the gathering, Haryana Gau Rakshak Dal’s Acharya Azad Shastri told the youth “not to be afraid of FIRs”.

    “We should immediately ensure getting a licence of 100 rifles in Mewat,” he said.

    The mahapanchayat, attended by some local BJP leaders, was held under the banner of ‘Sarv Hindu Samaj’, in which several Hindu outfits, including the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal, took part.

    It was presided over by Arun Jaildar, a Khap leader.

    Zaildar said the annual yatra, which has remained incomplete, must be completed on August 28.

    The mahapanchayat was originally planned to be held in Nuh district’s Kira village but permission was denied for it in view of the prevailing law and order situation.

    Permission for the mahapanchayat was given in Palwal, Deputy Superintendent of Police (headquarters), Palwal, Sandeep Mor said on Sunday.

    Palwal and Nuh are adjoining districts.

    Six people, including two home guards and a cleric, died in the clashes that erupted in Nuh after the VHP procession was attacked by mobs on July 31.

    Gurugram also witnessed stray incidents of violence.

    VHP leader Devender Singh had earlier claimed that the yatra will resume on August 28 in Nuh after the earlier one came under attack.

    The mahapanchayat also demanded that Nuh district be merged with adjoining Palwal and Gurugram districts, and a survey of losses of shops and homes of Hindus be carried out and they be compensated.

    There should be permanent deployment of Rapid Action Force and four battalions of central forces in Nuh, it sought, and further demanded that cases registered in Nuh against those indulged in violence should be heard in a court outside the district and the arrested accused be lodged in Gurugram or other jail instead of Nuh.

    Rohingyas and people from any other place outside the country living in Nuh should be removed and a law should be made to enforce this, the Hindu leaders demanded.

    It was also demanded that compensation of Rs 1 crore and a government job be provided to the family members of Hindus who died in the Nuh violence and Rs 50 lakh to those injured.

    In the mahapanchayat, Bharat Bhushan, state convener of Bajrang Dal; Anurag Kulshrestha, social media head of VHP; BJP’s Sohna MLA Sanjay Singh, former Palwal MLA Subhash Chowdhary, Nuh BJP former district president Surender Arya and officials of the VHP, Bajarang Dal and other Hindu outfits were present.

  • Vishva Hindu Parishad holds camp to train J&K girls in arts of self-defence, combating love jihad 

    By PTI

    JAMMU: VHP-affiliated ‘Durga Vahini’ held a training camp for girls in Jammu and Kashmir to teach them the arts of self-defence and even how to keep their own during terror attacks, the right-wing outfit said here on Sunday.

    Girls, all aged about 18, from 12 districts of the Union Territory participated in the week-long camp that started on July 3.

    Besides teaching them defence skills, the camp was also aimed at making girls aware of ‘love jihad,’ said a VHP member.

    “We organised a seven-day training camp from July 3, focusing on self-defence and personality development,” Shabnam Khajuria, the head of Durga Vahini, told PTI.

    The primary objective of this initiative was to enhance girls’ self-confidence and prepare them to combat all types of threats — from terrorism to disasters in the region, she said.

    “In addition to yoga and non-weapon techniques, the participants were trained in handling rifles and swords, enabling them to handle any situation effectively,” Shabnam said.

    Head Instructor Anjali Khajuria said once the girls are trained, they will further pass on their newly acquired skills to other women back home.

    In all, 82 girls, all aged 18 and above, hailing from 12 districts of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly the border areas, participated in the camp.

    Aditi Gupta, one of the trainees shared her experience saying, “The training in martial arts and weapon handling has made us physically and mentally strong.

    It has given us the self-confidence to face any situation. This is a lifelong learning process.”

    Another trainee Asmita Gupta said that the girl will go back to their native places and teach others about such practices.

    ‘Durga Vahini’ is affiliated with the Vishva Hindu Parishad, a right-wing group.

    “It serves as the female counterpart of the Bajrang Dal, a subsidiary of the Hindu nationalist organisation VHP, established in 1991.

    Women aged 18 to 35 are eligible to join and receive training in the camp,” Shakti Dhar Sharma, vice president, J&K VHP, told PTI.

    He said they are educating women on the issues of love jihad and the challenges being faced by Hindus.

    ‘Love jihad’ is a term used by right-wing activists to refer to an alleged conspiracy to convert Hindu girls to Islam by marrying them.

    The camp operated from 4 am to 10.30 pm, dedicating four hours to the women’s mental and physical development, Sharma said.

    JAMMU: VHP-affiliated ‘Durga Vahini’ held a training camp for girls in Jammu and Kashmir to teach them the arts of self-defence and even how to keep their own during terror attacks, the right-wing outfit said here on Sunday.

    Girls, all aged about 18, from 12 districts of the Union Territory participated in the week-long camp that started on July 3.

    Besides teaching them defence skills, the camp was also aimed at making girls aware of ‘love jihad,’ said a VHP member.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2′); });

    “We organised a seven-day training camp from July 3, focusing on self-defence and personality development,” Shabnam Khajuria, the head of Durga Vahini, told PTI.

    The primary objective of this initiative was to enhance girls’ self-confidence and prepare them to combat all types of threats — from terrorism to disasters in the region, she said.

    “In addition to yoga and non-weapon techniques, the participants were trained in handling rifles and swords, enabling them to handle any situation effectively,” Shabnam said.

    Head Instructor Anjali Khajuria said once the girls are trained, they will further pass on their newly acquired skills to other women back home.

    In all, 82 girls, all aged 18 and above, hailing from 12 districts of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly the border areas, participated in the camp.

    Aditi Gupta, one of the trainees shared her experience saying, “The training in martial arts and weapon handling has made us physically and mentally strong.

    It has given us the self-confidence to face any situation. This is a lifelong learning process.”

    Another trainee Asmita Gupta said that the girl will go back to their native places and teach others about such practices.

    ‘Durga Vahini’ is affiliated with the Vishva Hindu Parishad, a right-wing group.

    “It serves as the female counterpart of the Bajrang Dal, a subsidiary of the Hindu nationalist organisation VHP, established in 1991.

    Women aged 18 to 35 are eligible to join and receive training in the camp,” Shakti Dhar Sharma, vice president, J&K VHP, told PTI.

    He said they are educating women on the issues of love jihad and the challenges being faced by Hindus.

    ‘Love jihad’ is a term used by right-wing activists to refer to an alleged conspiracy to convert Hindu girls to Islam by marrying them.

    The camp operated from 4 am to 10.30 pm, dedicating four hours to the women’s mental and physical development, Sharma said.

  • Modi a swayamsevak, but works independently: RSS

    By Express News Service

    BHOPAL: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Saturday that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi was a Sangh swayamsewak and pracharak (volunteer), the RSS does not directly or remotely control outfits like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), which though are run by swayamsevaks.

    “Whenever the name of Sangh comes in, you take Modiji’s name. Yes Modiji was a Sangh swayamsevak and also a pracharak. The VHP, too, is run by our Swayamsevaks. But they work independently. We can only offer consultations and advice, but can never control them,” said the RSS chief. He was addressing an event in MP’s Jabalpur on Saturday.

    “Hindutva means the philosophy of embracing all — the Preamble of the Constitution is the prime spirit of Hindutva,” he said.Addressing a gathering of intellectuals and prominent people in Jabalpur, Bhagwat said: “India didn’t become one nation on the basis of language, trading interests, political power and thought. It has become one nation on the basis of unity in diversity and Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam (world is one family).”

    He said that it’s not the language or the worship system that forms a society. People with a common objective build a society. “Diversities are welcome and acceptable, but diversities should in no manner become the basis of any discrimination.”

    BHOPAL: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Saturday that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi was a Sangh swayamsewak and pracharak (volunteer), the RSS does not directly or remotely control outfits like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), which though are run by swayamsevaks.

    “Whenever the name of Sangh comes in, you take Modiji’s name. Yes Modiji was a Sangh swayamsevak and also a pracharak. The VHP, too, is run by our Swayamsevaks. But they work independently. We can only offer consultations and advice, but can never control them,” said the RSS chief. He was addressing an event in MP’s Jabalpur on Saturday.

    “Hindutva means the philosophy of embracing all — the Preamble of the Constitution is the prime spirit of Hindutva,” he said.Addressing a gathering of intellectuals and prominent people in Jabalpur, Bhagwat said: “India didn’t become one nation on the basis of language, trading interests, political power and thought. It has become one nation on the basis of unity in diversity and Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam (world is one family).”

    He said that it’s not the language or the worship system that forms a society. People with a common objective build a society. “Diversities are welcome and acceptable, but diversities should in no manner become the basis of any discrimination.”

  • Seers body demand ‘Sanatan Censor Board’, claim Hindu deities projected inappropriately by Bollywood

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Top body of Hindu seers Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti on Friday demanded the setting up of a “Sanatan Censor Board”, claiming that Hindu deities and religious leaders are not being projected appropriately in Bollywood movies.

    The seers body also passed a resolution demanding the abolition of the Waqf Board and the Ministry of Minority Affairs.

    The demands were made in a meeting organised by the seers body here which was attended by various organisations, including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Akhara Parishad.

    In the meeting, the seers reiterated that they would pursue the issues of the Gyanvyapi mosque in Varanasi and the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura, All India Sant Samiti general secretary Jitendranand Saraswati said.

    “A resolution was passed in the meeting, demanding that the Waqf Board and the Ministry of Minority Affairs should be abolished,” VHP general secretary Ashok Tiwari said.

    The seers also discussed the issue of “inappropriate” portrayal of Hindu deities and religious leaders in Bollywood films and expressed strong objection to it.

    “They demanded setting up of Sanatan Censor Board, as Hindu deities, gods and religious leaders are repeatedly not being projected appropriately and shown in bad light in Bollywood movies,” Tiwari said.

    In the meeting, cases of beating up of seers for suspected child theft across the country were also discussed, he said.

    The committee also discussed the issue of delinking Hindu temples from government control and identifying state-wise problems to ensure national unity and integrity.

    PTI DR JTR IJT 10072248 NNNN

    NEW DELHI: Top body of Hindu seers Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti on Friday demanded the setting up of a “Sanatan Censor Board”, claiming that Hindu deities and religious leaders are not being projected appropriately in Bollywood movies.

    The seers body also passed a resolution demanding the abolition of the Waqf Board and the Ministry of Minority Affairs.

    The demands were made in a meeting organised by the seers body here which was attended by various organisations, including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Akhara Parishad.

    In the meeting, the seers reiterated that they would pursue the issues of the Gyanvyapi mosque in Varanasi and the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura, All India Sant Samiti general secretary Jitendranand Saraswati said.

    “A resolution was passed in the meeting, demanding that the Waqf Board and the Ministry of Minority Affairs should be abolished,” VHP general secretary Ashok Tiwari said.

    The seers also discussed the issue of “inappropriate” portrayal of Hindu deities and religious leaders in Bollywood films and expressed strong objection to it.

    “They demanded setting up of Sanatan Censor Board, as Hindu deities, gods and religious leaders are repeatedly not being projected appropriately and shown in bad light in Bollywood movies,” Tiwari said.

    In the meeting, cases of beating up of seers for suspected child theft across the country were also discussed, he said.

    The committee also discussed the issue of delinking Hindu temples from government control and identifying state-wise problems to ensure national unity and integrity.

    PTI DR JTR IJT 10072248 NNNN

  • Cheques worth Rs 22 crore donated to Ram Mandir Trust ‘bounced’: Vishwa Hindu Parishad

    By PTI

    AYODHYA (UTTAR PRADESH): Even as devotees from across the country have donated liberally for the construction of Ram Temple here, 15,000 cheques worth more than Rs 22 crore received by the temple trust bounced, officials said here on Monday.

    According to a report released by Vishwa Hindu Parishad on the behalf of its district units across the country, so far a sum of Rs 3,400 crore has been received by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in donation.

    The report also gave information about the bounced cheques, but did not elaborate on the reasons they could not be honoured. “A second report is also being prepared separating such cheques, so that we can get the exact information about cheques that have bounced due to various reasons,” Prakash Gupta, office manager of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in Ayodhya, told PTI.

    “Many cheques might have bounced due to spelling mistakes or signature mismatch or any other technical reasons. Cheques which bounced due to petty technical reasons would be presented again with the bank,” he said.

    The report revealed that the donors from Ayodhya district have the maximum number of bounced cheques, exceeding 2,000. “Insufficient balance in the account has also emerged to be one of the main reasons for bouncing of cheques,” Gupta said.

    He said that the number of people donating from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh for the construction of Ram temple is 31,663. The number of people donating from Rs 5 lakh to 10 lakh is 1,428. “A total of 123 people donated between Rs 25 lakh and 50 lakh, and 127 donated between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1 crore. The number of people donating more than Rs 1 crore is 74,” Gupta said.

  • Will launch ‘battle’ against Delhi Police if any action is taken against our activists: VHP  

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Monday threatened to launch “a battle” against the Delhi Police if any action is taken against its activists in connection with the violence during a Hanuman Jayanti procession in Jahangirpuri.

    This came after police said it has registered an FIR against the organisers for taking out the procession without permission, and arrested a person, identified as Prem Sharma, who is a local VHP leader.

    However, the statement was later withdrawn by the police, citing that Indian Penal Code section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) is a bailable offence and the person who had joined the investigation was let off after questioning. The revised statement issued by the police did not name the VHP and the Bajrang Dal.

    DCP (Northwest) Usha Rangnani said that an FIR was registered against organisers for carrying out a procession on Saturday evening in the area without permission and one accused person has joined the investigation.

    Reacting sharply to the police action, VHP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal told PTI, “We have learnt that an FIR has been registered against VHP and Bajrang Dal activists, and one of the activists has been arrested as well. They (police) have done a big blunder.”

    He rejected as “absurd” the police claim that the procession was taken out by the organisers without permission and said it seems police have bowed down before “Islamic jihadis”. “If there was no permission, how police personnel in such a large number were accompanying the yatra (procession)?” he asked.

    ALSO READ| Jahangirpuri clashes: Scrap dealer who supplied bottles for pelting arrested, says Delhi Police

    Bansal said the VHP is “a law-abiding organisation” and levelling such an allegation against it and its activists raises many questions on the functioning of the police. The VHP will not “tolerate such things” he said “VHP will launch a battle if they (police) try to lodge a false case or pick any of its activists,” Bansal warned.

    Bansal accused the Delhi Police of “high handedness”, saying “all of a sudden, it withdrew a permission granted to a procession which was scheduled to be taken out on Monday”.

    “Also, yesterday in the morning, police forcefully stopped a yatra (procession), taken out from Bhalsawa village, about 100 metres before the point where it was scheduled to conclude,” he alleged and asked, “What is this?”.

  • Will expose true intentions of VHP, Bajrang Dal: Congress’ Scheduled Castes department

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Congress’ Scheduled Castes department on Friday questioned the ‘Samrasta Abhiyan’ of the Vishva Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal, and said it will expose them before the people.

    In a statement, the chairman of the SC department of the Congress, Rajesh Lilothia, said the party will not let them hide their true intentions or actions, and “we will continue to expose them”.

    Both the organisations are branches of the RSS and the BJP, and function as their agencies, Lilothia said, alleging that they perpetuate caste-based violence against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes across India.

    “This so-called ‘Samrasta Abhiyan’ is nothing but a fraud, scam and deception to mislead the people of India,” he said.

    To expose the real nature of the Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal, “we do not have to go too far into the past,” he said, citing several examples of leaders of VHP and Bajrang Dal indulging in attacks on the oppressed classes.

  • Tripura violence: HC orders state government to file affidavit on preventive measures

    Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: The Tripura High Court on Friday directed the state government to file affidavits, on or before November 10, on the preventive measures that it took or its plan of “scuttling the design of stoking communal passion or to perpetrate in the violence”.

    The court issued the order after hearing a PIL filed suo-moto in connection with the October 26 violence during a rally organized by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad in Panisagar sub-division of North Tripura district against the vandalism of Durga Puja pandals and Hindu temples in Bangladesh.

    A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Indrajit Mahanty and Justice Subhashish Talapatra, directed the government to file an affidavit stating the stages at which the investigation was going on and if any accused was apprehended.

    The court said various cases had been registered pursuant to the October 26 violence and incidents which took place before that. The Advocate General (AG) provided a brief note indicating some of the steps taken by the government to restore communal harmony as well as action taken against the perpetrator of the violence.

    The AG said it was observed that many pictures and videos were circulated on social media and they did not pertain to the incident. “Prima facie, it was also seen that videos/pictures belonging to other incidents happened outside state/outside country have been morphed and was being shown as relating to the present incident. These videos and pictures have potential to disturb the communal harmony in the state,” the AG said.

    To this, the court directed the government to initiate appropriate action against all such social media platforms in order to ensure that such false, fictitious and or fabricated news or footages do not come on to the social media platforms and even if they do so, they are removed at the earliest.

    “This court calls upon the social media platforms to also act responsibly since today. Media has every right, as a part of their activities to publish the truth. It should not be allowed to be used to spread untruth and spread communal passion,” the division bench said.