News Round-Up Protest by VHP and Bajrang Dal at Jantar Mantar Demand to scrap the anti-Hindu Communal Violence Bill

TERMING the proposed Prevention of Communal & Targeted Violence Bill as purely anti-Hindu, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) warned the UPA government not to introduce the Bill in the Parliament. Addressing a massive gathering of the VHP and the Bajrang Dal activists at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 25, the VHP general secretary Dr Pravin Togadia said the Bill has been drafted by known anti-Hindus groups and it makes the Hindus criminals even if they are the victims. “It is against the international principle of law and draconian in nature. It must be scrapped before reaching the Parliament otherwise we will create a nationwide agitation to compel the UPA Government not to play with the sentiments of Hindus, their safety and security again and again,” Dr Togadia said.

Describing the Bill, prepared by the Sonia Gandhi led NAC, as a ‘Black Bill’, eminent saints like Swami Raghavanand of the Sanatan Dharma Pratinidhi Sabha, Mahant Surendranath Avadhoot of Kalkaji temple and Mahant Naval Kishor Das voiced their opposition in the demonstration. Since the Bill has been drafted by a panel of known anti-Hindus, leftists and strong fundamentalist characters comprising Teesta Setalvad, John Dayal, Syed Sahabuddin, Farah Naqvi, Asgarali Engineer, etc, everyone can understand the mindset behind the Bill, they opined. Other speakers said the Bill would restrict one’s freedom of speech and expression by preventing any analysis, written or spoken, on the atrocities committed by the Muslims and Christians. The Bill is an effort by the UPA government to appease the minority community at the cost of majority. It is against the interests of the Hindus and a threat to national integration, they added.

Dr Togadia pointed out that it was a token protest by the VHP to awaken the government. “In the next move, we will approach the Parliamentarians to seek their support. Soon we will also start a mass awareness campaign throughout the country against this draconian Bill,” he said.