The three-day conclave of the Central Board of Trustees and the Governing Council of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) reached its culmination on February 27, at Karsevakpuram in the sacred city of Ayodhya Dham, Uttar Pradesh. In a bid to address contemporary challenges facing Hindu society, the meeting delineated plans for the expansion of the VHP organisation during its Shashtipurti year, marking its Diamond Jubilee Year or 60th Anniversary.
Shri Bajrang Lal Bagra, the newly elected Secretary General of Vishva Hindu Parishad, divulged that the deliberations encompassed a wide array of topics concerning both Bharat (India) and its diaspora. A consensus was reached among representatives, both domestic and international, to pivot towards fostering “Ramtva” – a holistic, altruistic, and syncretic consciousness centered around Bhagwan Ram – throughout the organisation, society, and Hindu diaspora.
With the momentous completion of the grand Temple of the Nativity of Shri Ram, a feat realized after five centuries, the VHP aims to revitalise and fortify Hindu society with a renewed focus on culture and strength. Secretary General Bagra emphasized the objective of establishing a highly cultured and resilient society by the end of the Shashtipurti year. The ambitious plan entails expanding organisational presence to approximately 100,000 (One Lakh) locations nationwide, underscoring the VHP’s commitment to reinstating values intrinsic to Shri Ram within every individual’s conscience and consciousness.
The VHP’s vision extends towards fostering a cultured, enlightened, committed, and secure Hindu society, propelled by the ethos encapsulated in the persona of Shri Ram. This concerted effort seeks to inscribe a new chapter in the annals of the VHP’s legacy, characterized by cultural refinement, grace, and dignity, resonating across the Hindu community at large.
During the meeting, the Secretary General of VHP elaborated on the extensive discussions covering various subjects including the expansion of Seva initiatives, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our cow progeny, halting religious conversions, and expediting the Ghar-Wapsi (Home-Coming) initiatives. These topics were thoroughly examined to formulate effective strategies in addressing pertinent issues facing Hindu society.
Additionally, representatives from different countries outside India shared their action plans aimed at enhancing coordination, solidarity, and collaboration among Hindus residing in their respective nations. The objective is to devise viable solutions for the concerns and challenges encountered by Hindu communities abroad.
Shri Bagra extended congratulations to the Uttarakhand Government for successfully implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). He further expressed the Board of Trustees’ optimism that other states across India would follow suit by enacting robust Uniform Civil Codes of their own. This collective action aims to eliminate discrimination among citizens and ensure equitable rights for all children and women.
He emphasized that while significant strides have been made in promoting social harmony, there remains a substantial amount of work yet to be accomplished. While some states have enacted stringent laws to curb religious conversions, the Board of Trustees advocated for similar measures to be adopted by other states. Furthermore, it was underscored that upon the public release and implementation of the rules pertaining to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), immediate action should be taken by our volunteers to facilitate Indian citizenship for Hindu, Jain, Sikh, and Buddhist individuals from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh who have sought refuge in India to escape religious persecution and socio-economic hardships.
The gathering expressed satisfaction with the election, conducted under the protocol of triennial elections, of the current Working President, senior advocate Shri Alok Kumar, as the International President of Vishva Hindu Parishad. Similarly, the appointment of the current Joint General Secretary, Shri Bajrang Lal Bagra, as the new Secretary General was also met with approval. Accompanied by the chanting of “OM”, the meeting endorsed the appointment of the present Secretary General, Shri Milind Parande, as the Central Sangathan Mahamantri (Organization General Secretary) of VHP, and Shri Vinayak Rao Deshpande as the Sah Sangathan Mahamantri (Organization Co-General Secretary).
The biannual meeting convenes every six months, gathering trustees of Vishva Hindu Parishad from across the globe alongside members of the Governing Council. A total of 371 representatives took part in the Ayodhya meeting. Present at the press conference were VHP’s newly elected International President, senior advocate Shri Alok Kumar, and Joint General Secretary Dr. Surendra Jain.
