The Kendriya Margdarshak Mandal of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) that met at Nishkam Sewa Trust in Haridwar from June 15 to 16 has declared to intensify the countrywide agitation for protection of Ram Sethu from Vijayadashami. ?If the Central Government does not declare the Ram Sethu a national monument and publicly declare its commitment for its protection, we should be ready to make any kind of sacrifice for the protection of the Ram Sethu,? said a resolution unanimously adopted at the meeting.
Senior saints from all states of the country participated the meeting. Prior to the Kendriya Margdarshak Mandal meeting, the Uchchadhikar Samiti met on June 14 in which 40 senior saints including Kanchi Shankaracharya Swami Jayendra Saraswati, Jyotirmath Shankaracharya Swami Vasudeva-nanda Saraswati, Ramanandacharya Swami Rambhadracharya, Rama-nujacharya Swami Vasudevacharya, Madhvacharya Shri Vishveshteerth and Swami Satyamitranand Giri. VHP president Shri Ashok Singhal, general secretary Dr Pravin Togadia and various other senior leaders of VHP were also present at the meeting.
The resolution further said that development at the cost of rich traditions was a conspiracy to derail the nation from its cultural roots, which would not be accepted at all. The Margdarshak Mandal warned the government to declare the Sethu a national monument before the beginning of the winter Navratras and by changing the route of the Sethusamudaram project assure that the Ram Sethu would not be damaged. ?The sacred places of Ayodhya, Mathura and Kashi are our deities. Similarly Ram Sethu is also a sacred pilgrimage place for us. The religious people of the country would not allow any damage to this historical legacy and the pilgrimage places,? the resolution added.
In another resolution about the protection of the Ganga, the Margdarshak Mandal said the nation does not want development at the cost of its priceless historical legacy. Appealing to the Central Government to change its attitude to the holy river, the saints unanimously said that the Ganga should be declared a National River and a central authority should be constituted to protect it. ?Not only the governments but also the indifference of the Hindus to the sins of the governments is responsible for the present condition of the Ganga. The governments have exploited the river very mercilessly,? the resolution added. The saints also supported the fast unto death by Prof Gangadas Agrawal for the protection of the Ganga. They said the river must be allowed to flow naturally from Gangotri to Uttarkashi. Prof. Agrawal, in his age of 76 years, has started fast unto death in Uttarkashi from June 13. He has demanded that all the projects sanctioned by the central government over the Ganga, which protect natural flow of the holy river, should be quashed forthwith.
In another resolution, the Margdarshak Mandal reiterated its demand to free all the religious places of Hindus from the illegal occupation of the government. The resolution warned if the government fails to meet their demand the saints would be forced to start a massive agitation.
About the reconstruction of Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, the saints said the temple would be reconstructed with the strength of the people. The reconstruction work could be started only after the Members of Parliament realise the Hindus? strength and remove the hurdles that block the way of the reconstruction. The Margdarshak Mandal appealed to the Hindu society to develop a massive strength, which can force the government to enact a law allowing reconstruction of the temple.
