COVER STORY

Scrap Communal Violence Bill, dissolve the anti-people NAC, demands Sant Sammelan

“Communal Violence Bill will cripple, and communalise the entire system”—Mohan Bhagwat

Demanding immediate dissolution of the Sonia Gandhi headed anti-people National Advisory Council (NAC), senior saints of the country at the Sant Sammelan in Delhi demanded immediate withdrawal of the Communal Violence Bill. They also warned the UPA government of a nationwide agitation if their demands were not met immediately. Sant Samagam was organised in New Delhi from December 11 to 12 by Bharatiya Sanskriti Sabha.

The prominent saints who attended the Samagam included His Holiness Kanchi Shankara-charya Swami Jayendra Saraswati, Jagadguru Madhva-charya His Holiness Shri Vishvesh Teertha Maharaj of Udupi, Mahamandaleshwar His Holiness Swami Satyamitranand Giri Maharaj Acharya, Mahaman-daleshwar His Holiness Swami Vishvadevanand Maharaj, His Holiness Swami Nirmalanand and His Holiness Shri Jiar Swami from Karnataka, convener of the Samagam and general secretary of Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha HH Swami Parmatmanand Maharaj, HH Swami Govinddev Giri Maharaj, founder of Vatsalya Gram Sadhvi Ritambhara and others. Apart from the saints, RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri Mohan Bhagwat, Sarkaryavah Shri Bhaiyaji Joshi, Sahsarkaryavah Shri Dattatreya Hosabale, VHP president Shri Ashok Singhal, general secretary Dr Pravin Togadia and many senior VHP leaders were also present at the Samagam.

Speaking on the occasion RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri Mohan Bhagwat said there are forces which are bent upon weakening Bharat and the present Communal Violence Bill is part of that game plan. “Just a look at this Bill reveals that it has deliberately been designed to prove injustice as justice and also to cripple the administration. The recent talks of some amendment in the Bill by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, after the pressure generated by saints, are also nothing but presenting Tadaka into the form of Putna,” Shri Bhagwat said appealing to the saints to display their united strength to get the Bill abolished. He assured the saints that the Sangh would support any activity launched against the Bill.

He pointed out that the Sangh had recently conducted a countrywide campaign against the Bill so that it should not be tabled in Parliament. He said the Bill would not benefit even those for whom it has been designed. It would generate permanent clashes in the society. Majority of those who have designed the draft of this Bill are involved in anti-national activities and one cannot accept any constructive activity on their part. He stressed the need that the reality about this Bill should reach to all sections of the society, as it would benefit none.

HH Kanchi Acharya Swami Jayendra Saraswati appealed to the people to oppose the Bill by peaceful and democratic means. HH Swami Vishvesh Teertha Maharaj described it a threat to the entire Hindu society. He stressed that all Hindus should unitedly fight it. “It is the matter of life and death for Hindu society and we should be ready for any kind of sacrifice for it,” he said.
HH Swami Satyamitranand Giri Maharaj stressed the need that just passing resolutions and organising meetings is not enough, there is a need to organise effective blockade all over the country. HH Shri Jiar Swami said if the Bill becomes a law the Hindus would have no option but to convert into Christianity or Islam and those who would refuse to convert would be put behind bars. HH Swami Govinddev Giri Maharaj described the Bill as an attempt to destroy the entire Hindu society. He said it is gross insult of the Hindu society and it must be opposed with full might.

VHP president Shri Ashok Singhal said the VHP would oppose any move aimed at minority appeasement. He described the attempt on the part of Congress leaders to allocate 15 per cent budget for Muslims under the 12th Five Year Plan as the height of Muslim appeasement.

Sadhvi Ritambhara termed it a very serious matter and said the government should be pressurised to stop it right now. She said the saints should educate the people about the seriousness of the Bill. She declared that she would devote at least two weeks for the awareness campaign to be launched against the Bill.

Prior to the Sant Samagam, the Core Committee meeting of saints was organised. Former justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court Dr Rama Jois, former Justice Shri VS Kokje, former IB officer Shri RN Singh, former RAW official Shri JP Sharma, former Director General of Punjab Police Shri PC Dogra, former Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh Shri Venkat Sekharan, former Advocate General of Rajasthan Shri Gurusharan Gill, Janata Party President Dr Subramanian Swamy and others discussed various provisions of the Bill with the saints.

Dr Subramanian Swamy said there are attempts to make this Bill a law despite the clear instructions of the Supreme Court that no law can be enacted on the basis of religion. He stressed the need to hit at the very mentality which is behind the roots of this Bill. He said those who have drafted this Bill must apologise from the entire nation for their misdeeds.

The resolution, adopted the Samagam, demanded that the Government should apologise from the entire Hindu society for bringing such an insulting Bill. The resolution said if the Bill was passed all the temples, saints, religious functions like Ramlila, Ganeshotsva etc. religious organisations of Hindus and business activities of Hindus will depend upon the mercy of jehadis. The saints expressed the resolve that the Bill would not be allowed to become a law. 

(FOC)