Abject surrender to Islamic separatists

By Shyam Khosla

If one were to talk of demographic change in the valley, it was brought about two decades ago when hundreds of thousands of Hindus were forced to flee from their homes by the terrorists and secessionists. There is almost complete ethnic cleansing of the valley. Since then Kashmiri Pandits are forced to live as refugees in their own country.

Congress Government has shamelessly surrendered to the Islamist and secessionist elements by rescinding the order that granted permission to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) to put up temporary shelters on forest land for the pilgrims to the holy cave. Anti-national elements and secessionists indulged in street violence and even stoned buses carrying pilgrims. They have vitiated the atmosphere and sharpened communal polarisation by spreading canards and hurting Hindu sentiments. The chilling message to Hindus is that their presence— even for the short duration of the yatra—is unacceptable to people in the valley.

Instead of curbing the mindless violence perpetrated by highly inflamed mobs, the State Government bet a hasty retreat and announced that the autonomous Shrine Board that was set up in the year 2000 to manage the pilgrimage would no longer be involved in the exercise. The task was taken over by the “secular” government. No effort was made to disabuse the public mind of falsehood spread by interested parties and jehadis. Baseless and provocative allegations went unchallenged by the Government. Nothing could be more absurd and stupid than the assertion that ‘transfer” of forest land to the Shrine Board was part of the hidden agenda to settle Hindus in the valley to bring about a demographic change in Muslim majority Kashmir. An innocuous plan to provide some resting places to Hindu pilgrims has been mischievously portrayed as a conspiracy. The fact is that State Government order had merely granted permission to SASB to raise “pre-fabricated structures only for camping purposes of pilgrims without going in for construction of permanent structures” on forest land and went on to clearly state that “proprietary status of forest land shall remain unchanged”.

If one were to talk of demographic change in the valley, it was brought about two decades ago when hundreds of thousands of Hindus were forced to flee from their homes by the terrorists and secessionists. There is almost complete ethnic cleansing of the valley. Since then Kashmiri Pandits are forced to live as refugees in their own country. The Government miserably failed to ensure security and create a reasonably congenial atmosphere so that Kashmiri Hindus could return to their ancestral land. More than 20,000 Hindu refugees from Pakistan who settled in the state in 1947 have been denied state citizenship rights. Under the circumstances, how can any non-state Hindu even think of settling in the valley? Blatant lies were spread by fanatics to incite anti-Hindu and anti-national feelings among the people in the valley. Instead of calling a spade a spade, Lt. General (retd.) S.K. Sinha, who was till recently Governor of J&K, and Hindu outfits are being blamed for the trouble in the valley by the Congress and the “secular” crowd.

So-called mainline political parties in J&K are no less guilty. PDP has all along drawn strength from separatist elements. In the last elections, the party emerged as the third largest party in the assembly with the clandestine support from secessionists. The party led by former Union Home Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed and his daughter Mahbooba Mufti is unfolding its vicious “self-rule” plan that aims at weakening state’s links with the rest of the country and ultimately realising the dream of an “independent Kashmir ”. The PDP by withdrawing support from the Government sent a strong signal to separatists and secessionists that it is playing their game in the political arena.

Transfer of management of the Amarnath Yatra to an autonomous board in 2000 has never been smooth. Besides separatists, several other elements were irked by the decision. The Board regulated the money charged by porters and pony-owners to ensure that pilgrims were not exploited. Sections of civil servants who indulged in corruption and pocketed money allocated for providing facilities to pilgrims also resented the Shrine Board. At the political level too there was resistance. In the year 2004, SASB demanded that the period of yatra may be extended to two months and that the Board be allowed to use forest land to set up seven rest sites so that pilgrims could have access to sanitation, shelter and security. The then Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed opposed the demands tooth and nail. The J&K High Court gave a landmark judgment in 2005. It held that the duration of the yatra would be decided by the Board and not by the Govenrment and ordered that the State should immediately permit the use of forest land to provide shelter to pilgrims. So, the permission to use forest land for providing facilities for pilgrims has judicial sanction. How can they call the permission “illegal”? On the contrary, rescinding the permission is against the orders of the High Court and, therefore, illegal. Those who wish to pamper Muslims are not impressed. For them, Muslim sentiments based on falsehood are sacred while Hindu sentiments and safety is secondary.

While Muslim fundamentalists are celebrating their victory, Jammu is burning. Curfew was imposed and police resorted to firing on Hindus protesting against the Government capitulation to jehadi elements. Nationalist forces are observing bandh and strikes not only in Jammu but also all over the country. Demands for pulling down Haj complexes and Haj terminals are being raised by enraged citizens. They want Haj subsidies to be withdrawn. Providing countless amenities to Muslim pilgrims and denying minimum facilities to Hindu pilgrims is gross injustice and is totally unacceptable. The Congress party will have to pay a heavy political price for its anti-Hindu policies. Governor N.N. Vohra, who is ex-officio chairman of the SASB, has deeply hurt Hindu sentiments by handing over the management of the yatra to the State Government. His action, obviously taken at the instance of his political masters, has undermined his credibility he had so assiduously built over decades as an able and honest civil servant.

Hindu body says Azad favouring Muslims in J & K

JAMMU, JULY 4 (PTI)

Various political and social organisations spearheading the present agitation in Jammu today alleged that Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad is adopting different yardsticks for Muslims and Hindus in the state.

"Azad succumbed to the pressure of secessionists on cancellation of land transfer order to Amarnath shrine board, ignoring the faith of crores of Hindus," said L K Sharma, convenor of the Sangarsh Samiti, a conglomeration of various political and social bodies.

Despite the fact that the shrine board had offered to pay Rs 2.43 crore for constructing temporary pre-fabricated huts for the pilgrims, the chief minister reversed the government order, he said.

Sharma said Azad had provided free government land for setting up Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University and Islamic University in the state, but not for Mata Vaishno Devi University set up near Katra.

Hindu leaders arrested after attack by 6,000 strong Muslim mob in West Bengal

Hindu Samhati
Fri, Jun 13, 2008 at 9:07 PM

FRIENDS OF HINDU SAMHATI
Registered in: New York, USA.
Contact: hindusamhati@gmail.com
June 13, 2008

The Friends of Hindu Samhati, USA unequivocally condemns today's gruesome attack on the Hindu Samhati training camp at Ganga Sagar (West Bengal) by a murderous mob of local Muslims, at least 6000-7000 strong, starting Thursday (June 12, 2008).

Ganga Sagar is a very reknowned Hindu Tirtha Kshetra (Place of Pilgrimage) where the sacred Ganga River has a confluence with the Bay of Bengal. Ganga Sagar is located on the western edge of the Sunderban Delta on Sagar Island. At the edge of Sagar town - adjacent to the beach - is the ancient temple dedicated to Kapil Muni, the sage responsible for initiating the chain of events that ultimately resulted in Mother Ganga descending to the earth from heaven and giving mankind an opportunity to wash away its sins in her pure water. The earliest mention of this sacred place is found in the Mahabharata where a learned sage explains to Bhishma the significance of taking a dip at the confluence of Ganga Sagar. Millions of Hindu pilgrims visit this holy place all year round to take a dip in the ho,y Ganges, particularly during the Kumbha Mela and Makara Sankranti festivities.

Since this morning (Thursday, 12 June, 2008), Hindu Samhati had started conducting a training camp and workshop on the current socio-political scenario to 180 men, women and children in the peaceful and serene surroundings of Ganga Sagar.

Sri Tapan Kumar Ghosh, the National Convenor of Hindu Samhati is conducting the main sessions of this camp. Other eminent people and local notables are also present. Everything went on smoothly until this evening, when suddenly the camp building was surrounded by a murderous mob of about 6000-7000 local Muslims bent on mayhem. The Muslim attackers were well-prepared and have been throwing gas cylinders and petrol bombs (molotov cocktails) and kept on attacking incessantly for a few hours, to incinerate the whole camp. The entire camp building has been reduced to ashes. All 180 of our camp attendees (a large number of them women and children) and 15 policemen are trapped inside this burning camp along with our dear leader Sri Tapan Kumar Ghosh.

Already 14-15 attendees of the camp have been injured in the carnage, and at least 7 of them are in very critical condition and are not expected to survive. The names of the critically wounded include: Subodh Kundu, Bivas Mondal, Gopinath Biswas, Prasenjit Sardar and Gautam Halder, apart from 2 others that could not be identified because of serious facial burn injuries.

Nine camp attendees are still missing and may have been kidnapped by the Muslim mob. Their names are: Gautam Mondal, Kartick Biswas, Ram Shil, Palash Roy, Gopal Dolui, Piyush Senapati, Ashok Das, Shankar Nandi and Subhash Roy. We are very apprehensive about their well being.

The local police-station (Thana) has unfortunately sent in a small posse of 15 policemen who are totally inadequate for resisting such a huge Jehadi mob armed to the teeth. The police could not control the mob of Muslims even after firing several rounds.

As of Friday morning (June 13, 2008), as per the recent information received by us, the assault by the Muslim mob at Hindu Samhati campsite in Gangasagar is still on, although the intensity has abated a little bit. Some more police force has reached the trouble spot, though the large force required to subdue a mob of this size and temperament is nowhere in sight. A recent update by phone from the camp is that along with the 14-15 attendees who were injured, 2 policemen have also been seriously injured due to the assault by the Muslim mob. Scores of other attendees to the camp has sustained minor injuries in this most cowardly assault including the National Convener of Hindu Samhati, Sri Tapan Kumar Ghosh. Thankfully his injuries are not serious.

Apart from throwing petrol bombs to incinerate the camp building, the Muslim mob also tried to breach the wall by exploding cooking gas cylinders against it. Failing to break into the camp, the rampaging Muslim mob has attacked and seriously damaged some nearby houses of the local Hindus. They have also seriously damaged and set fire to an adjoining Kali temple and a 'Yatri Nivas' (Travellers' Lodge) run by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. The fireball attacks have slightly abated but the vicious threats and stone pelting continues – all attuned to the collective chants of both 'naara-e-takbir, allahu akbar' (allah is the Greatest) and 'inquilab zindabad' (Long Live the Revolution).

Sagar island at the Ganga Sagar – the confluence of the Ganga and the Bay of Bengal – is one of the holiest pilgrimages of India, where millions of Hindus from all over India and the world gather during the 'Makar Sankranti' (Winter Solstice) for the 'Punya Snan' (Holy Bath) every year. If a peaceful Hindu gathering can be assaulted with such viciousness and impunity in one of the most sacred Hindu sites of pilgrimage, one shudders to think what lies in store for the Hindus of West Bengal a few years hence.

In a travesty of justice, instead of arresting the attackers, the Police in West Bengal have slapped a non-bailable arrest warrant against Sri Tapan Kumar Ghosh and 15 Hindu Samhati activists. The concocted charges against them are listed as being: "Incitement and Instigation for Rioting" and "Disruption of Communal Harmony".

As per the latest news received from the ground, Sri Tapan Kumar Ghosh and 15 Hindu Samhati activists have been framed and arrested for inciting communal disharmony by Kakdwip Thana (Police Station) in West Bengal.

1) The Friends of Hindu Samhati, USA strongly protests this outrageous attack on a peaceful, indoor religious function that was held behind closed doors. There was no provocation for this vicious assault nor was any outdoor procession held at the location. It is pitiable that the police could not provide security to its peace loving citizens and is instead insisting on closing the camp down.

2) We strongly urge the police and the local administration to arrest all the perpetrators of this heinous crime immediately and provide security to continue the camp at a nearby, alternate location.

3) We deeply deplore the travesty of justice in West Bengal and appeal to the police and the local administration to remove the framed charges and release Sri Tapan Kumar Ghosh and 15 Hindu Samhati activists immediately.

4) We request all friends and readers in India and abroad to call up the Indian administration to inquire about this incident. At least, they will know that people still care about justice and peace in India. The Numbers to Call are:

a) District Magistrate, South 24 Parganas
Phone: 033-24793713
Email: dm-ali@wb.nic.in

b) Mr. Praveen Kumar
District Superintendent of Police, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal
Mobile Phone: 91-98300-23142

c) Ganga Sagar Police-Station/Thana
Officer in Charge
Phone: 91-3210-240-205

d) Mr. Tomal Das
Officer in Charge
Kakdwip Thana (Police Station)
Mobile Phone: 98305-99612

e) Sub-Divisional Police Officer--Senior to Officer in Charge
Phone: 94349-66000

5) Finally, please show your solidarity with the beleaguered Hindus of West Bengal, and spread the news of this heinous outrage among your friends, co-workers and family.

Are the Hindus still colonized?

Anti-Hindu DMK's another agenda to wipe out Hindu dharma from the face of Tamil Nadu

TN bans new year rites, priests fume
M.R. VENKATESH

Chennai, April 12: A pope reformed the Christian calendar but priests here are furious at the DMK government’s revision of the Tamil year.

The administration has told government-run temples not to celebrate the traditional Tamil New Year tomorrow, saying the year began three months ago.

Angry priests said they had received an oral order banning the New Year rites — special pujas and readings from the Tamil almanac, Panchangam — on Sunday.

For centuries, priests have read from the almanac every New Year evening to tell large gatherings how the coming year would unfold — to reassure them about good rainfall and bountiful crops, or warn them of war and pestilence.

Many temples are preparing to defy the ban. “This is needless interference with age-old temple practices,” said a priest at Chennai’s Sundareshwarar temple.

The Tamil year has always begun with the month of Chittirai, in mid-April. But the DMK government got a law passed last February, advancing it to the first day of the month Thai in mid-January.

This was done to pander to Tamil nationalists who claim that the mid-April New Year is a “Sanskritic imposition”.

The mid-January New Year would coincide with Pongal — an “authentic” Tamil festival (though Sankranti is observed around the same time across India).

Also, Tamil saint-poet Thiruvalluvar’s birthday, usually celebrated on January 17, would now virtually kick off the year, which would be logical as the Tamil calendar dates from him, the government said.

“We’ll go ahead with the special pujas for the sake of the devotees,” a priest said.

A priest at the Jambulingeshwarar temple near Tiruchirappalli, however, said his shrine would obey the ban.

The Ramanathaswami temple in Rameshwaram, however, has been spared a difficult choice. Sources said the special pujas would be held since devotees had already paid for them. But the temple’s long-standing custom has been to read the almanac in the month of Aadi (mid-June), so it gets a breather now.

Several Opposition leaders, led by Jayalalithaa and MDMK chief Vaiko, issued New Year’s Eve greetings to the public today, indicating they disagreed with the new calendar law.

A similar reform of the Christian calendar was decreed in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII, but for astronomical reasons. He dropped 10 days from the Julian version of the calendar to correct a miscalculation about leap years.

Lord Ram & Ramayana - Science cannot explain everything

Its very very sad
by Pritish Nagaraj, Sep 13, 2007 08:17 AN

Very disappointing day in my life, I'd never thought people can go so cheap for petty politics.

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BE INVOLVED
by Jeffrey Mittal, Sep 13, 2007 08:45 AM

Never just sit and wach this happen. Think globally and act locally. As Swami Vivekanada said " arise and awake" my fellow Hindus. Would any other faith tolerate this. The Indian Media is filled with Hindu Bashers, including this site. So, what can you do?

First BE INVOLVED - not only in posting messages but at the local level, including politics, which has been hijcaked by these pseudo-seculars (read anti Hindu or anti Snatan Dharma) You can sit by, watch and get rolled over or you can stand up for your rights and take back waht is rightfully yours. There will be dangers and challenges. Are you upto it?

2. Instead of following usual (money making) careers such as software, get into jouranlism, even the Indian Beaurocracy to make true cj=hanges, which make Indian cutlure as grat as it is. Tolerance is NOT weakness NOR allowing ourselves to be bullied.

3. Further, as some one mentioned, at least get a basic understanding of the philosohical basis of Sanatana Dharma. There are plenty of resources on the web.

I want to warn you, it does take some effort and time. Above all, take the energy you have built up from reading this and help your fellow man, who believes in the same faith.

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These trators will never succeed. Vedic Civilization can never be destroyed
Sep 13, 2007 08:28 AM

ASI atheists, other atheist politicians, other unwanted religious faiths are bent upon wiping out our ancient Vedic culture from the surface of the earth. One should ask these idiots if they remember or have any scientific proof of the existence of their forefathers. Photos are not proofs. If they dont, we can easily say that all these idiots dont have forefathers, and they were all mythology. Haha!!

Mythology is again a term coined by British to make us believe that our culture and history are unreal. It was a conspiracy to shake our faith and destroy our Vedic civilization just to convert us all. Now, these traitors are exceptionally following British rules being born in thisholy land. What a shame! Ravana and his army of asuras were even more powerful than these stupid atheists. We all know what happened to them.
They were blown away!

So, these traitors also will never succeed. These idiots will be taught a lesson one day!

As people born in this very sacred land of Bharath (I hate to call it India - a name given to us by the mleccha British), it is our duty to rise and smash these irreligious, atheistic traitors and teach them a lesson. Shame on us if we dont!

Let us all also pray sincerely to Lord Sri Rama to eject such unwanted people from the surface of the earth and protect our pure, spiritually powerful Vedic civilization. HE will definitely come! Let there be no doubt about it!

Jai Sri Ram! Jai Jai Sri Ram!

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No evidence to prove existence of Ram, Centre to SC
by sumerendra chauhan, Sep 13, 2007 08:22 AM

The reason why Lord Rama and the Ramayana is so easily dismissed is because no one fears the Hindus. Hindus are seen as cowards because the majority of Hindus will do nothing if something is done against their religion. Most Indians claim to be Hindus but are not in fact Hindus, they go to temples, do their puja but never defend their faith and when other Hindus do stand up to defend Hinduism they are labelled fanatics.

Thus even in India, where the majority is supposed to be Hindu, people can easily stand up and insult Hinduism because they know they can get away with it. Had the Hindus had the same attitude and faith in their religion the way the Muslims have, then no one would dare insult their faith that easily, they would think twice, especially in India. But only in India, so many impotent Hindus live and allow for such insults to take place including MF Hussain's paintings depicting Hindu Gods and Goddesses as naked and having sex.

Shame on the Hindus for allowing such insults to go unavenged! Shame on them for not following the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita which cleary states what is to be done to those who attack your religion!

Shame on India!!! Shame on Indians!!!

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ram sethu bridge
by Mr Abhay Ekbote, Sep 13, 2007 08:30 AM

How can they find evidence of Ram when Ravana's are looking for the evidence. In a country of Hindus, the Ravana's are ruling the roost and causing the greatest harm to the hindus. Appeasement of Minorities at any Cost appears to be their motto to keep their bums on the seats. Lets fight such anti Hindu Pro minorities Ravana's each one in his own way.

This is how Hinduism is systematically being destroyed by the Congis.

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This is how Hinduism is systematically being destroyed by the Congis.

by Ganapati Hegde, Sep 13, 2007 08:47 AM

Through the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Act, Hindu temples and Maths are taken over by state Governments in the name of better administration, while mosques and churches are completely autonomous. This Act allowed the state governments and politicians complete control over the temples and their property. Many abuses are committed by multiple state governments using the power accorded through this Act.

In Andhra Pradesh under Chief Minister Y. Samuel Rajasekar Reddy, tens of thousands of acres of temple lands are sold away leaving temples with little economic basis. This is done without the permission of the local Hindu community. The state government and the endowments department whose duty is to safeguard the temple properties have turned a blind eye to such encroachments or take overs of temple properties. The state government recently went to the extent of regularizing encroachments at nominal prices. These encroachments are often found to be closely associated to various political parties.

In Andhra Pradesh, Hindu temples, institutions and Hinduism itself are illegally targeted by the crusade of the government. Under the Temple Empowerment Act, about 34,000 temples are under government control. Only 18% of the revenue of these temples is said to be given back for temple purposes, while the remaining 82% is used for other things by the government at their discretion.

Vote for BJP and preserve your religion and Cultute.

Jai Shri Ram !!!

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The so called secular organizations are trying to argue based on distorted scientific & historical bases
Kool, Sunday , September 16, 2007

The issue of ASI filing affidavit in SC that there is no proof of existence of Lord Ram & Ram-Setu, shows how in-sensitive the government is. I don't think, any department of this government has guts to even verbally say the similar remarks about other religions like Muslim or Christians. This gives the impression to common Hindu man that the Hindus are soft target by so called secular political parties & government departments working under their rule, which results in Hindus taking extremist view to register their views & provokes them. So, I urge all those political organizations that please do not ignite Hindus in their own country. It is enough now & the water is going over heads. Please stop it for the shake of GOD in which we all believe in form of Ram, Allah or Jesus.

The so called secular organizations are trying to argue based on distorted scientific & historical bases. I wish to ask them, why they are not consistent in arguing for the issues related to other religions also? Just to give an example (please do not take this as an offense to any religion in specific) that Supreme Court has banned the use loud speakers for making daily 'Azans' in Mosque. Why none of government department act and take corrective actions to stop this? This is just an example to give. There are so many issues like that. Why we are so in-sensitive to only Hindus? Why they are soft target? Please stop this discrimination. Please stand up with Hindus which has given so many good things to this globe & try to wipe out the hatred from society.

Regarding Setu-samundram project, My personal opinion is to stop this project. Even if the bridge is not made by Ram, this is having geo-ecological importance. As a common man like me can understand this, why those people who are supposed to have technical brains can not understand this? There are various other issues for developments like connecting the rivers & create water network across country to prevent water shortage.

Thanks

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I see minority rule the majority
Aswathy Nair, Sunday , September 16, 2007

When you say religion is a private matter, true it is, But in the country do you think only BJP is playing politics. Congress is the biggest religious card player than BJP, in Kerala Kerala-congress is the biggest Christian card player, what about Muslim-leeg . So why only target BJP. I am not at all a supporter of BJP but when I see Kashmir and other place I am sure very soon Hindus will become a minority and then we will see if India will remain a democratic country, and how many of you and your children will sit and talk like this in your TV channel. I always want to come back to that beautiful country , but when I see minority rule the majority and the way our politicians conduct and rule the country as if India is there private property, especially congress and Sonia Gandhi , I feel pity of the people in that country. Only God can save that country.

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Lord Ram & Ramayana - Belief beyond India
R.S.Kannan, Sunday , September 16, 2007
Singapore

May I point to my fellow Indians that Ramayana's historical spiritual influence extends way beyond India? The influence of Ramayana can be seen Cambodia. Amongst the many temples there, the Angkor Wat, a very ancient temple, has the times of Lord Ram etched on the walls. Similarly, many countries in S.E. Asia have temples or palaces where the time of Lord Ram has been documented. Thailand is another country where there is abundance of information in Lord Ram’s times.

The ASI has done a bad job. In addition to the resignation of the 2 officials, Ms. Ambika Soni should also resign. Further, the Congress government should make tangible amends to their approach to the majority religion. Their ally, the DMK, is known anti-Hindu party. Mr. T.R. Balu should be asked to step down as well, as he is the primary driver of this insensitive and crude court case.

Instead of staging a road rokos in India, Hindu organisations should quickly document the influence of Lord Ram in Asia and keep the interest alive through cultural and religious programs.

It is pity that parties like Dravidar Kazhagam and its off-shoot, the DMK, are making Hindus in India feel ashamed of being a Hindu.

Thanks

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Science cannot explain everything
Sunday , September 16, 2007

Science cannot explain everything. What if tomorrow, after the project is over, you get enough evidence to show that the setu could have been a man-made one? Can you get it back? Why, for the sake of few crores of rupees, should we dent the faiths of crores of people? Is our society so backward that we fail to respect faiths?

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The war for renaissance of Vedic society is not over
v_raja_ram, Sep 15, 2007 1:19 AM

The GOI has agreed to re-alignment because of fear of losing Hindu votes enmasse and losing the battle in the court. Though it is a battle for protection of Ramar Setu may be won, the war for renaissance of Vedic society is not over. Attack on Ramar Setu is only one of the battles in the war by pseudo-secular, anti-Hindu, Indian terrorists to destroy the vedic fabric of our society. The fact that the war is still on is indicated by the fact that the PM and Sonia have not tendered apologies for hurting the faith of Hindus. After admitting error, what is holding them from apologizing? What non-sense it is that GOI says that to err is human but realize it is divine. They did not realize it when people petitioned but the legal and political reality forced them to. The arrogance and high-handedness of the PM and Sonia in not apologizing for the great affront to Hindu society cannot be forgiven.

We need to understand that Sonia and PM are trying to flee the scene because of the tremendous volume of work done Dr. Kalayanaraman et al in proving the historicity of Ramar Setu, the legal battle by Dr. Subramaniam Swamy et al and the convergence of Hindutva forces on the issue. When beating a retreat to avoid a legal and political debacle, those who terrorized the Hindus are trying to walk the moral high road by talking about Communal Harmony and true secularism. They are trying lick up some of the Hindu votes by exploiting the pacifist tendencies by treating the issue as over.

The war on terror by pseudo-secular, anti-Hindu forces is far from over. We don’t want GOI to honour our sentiments "though there is no scientific evidence". Vedic society is not driven by sentiments but by the synergy of faith, reason and unrelenting pursuit of truth. We don’t want Ramar Setu to be protected if there is no historical evidence of it being a place of worship for Hindus over centuries. We have ample evidence to show that Dwaraka, Saraswati, Ramar Setu etc. have sufficient historical and metaphysical reality. And that is precisely why we ask for protection. And there is enough evidence to show that the GOI intentionally terrorized the Hindus by attempting to destroy the place of worship. They tried to turn a blind eye to truth and carried on mispropaganda that there is no evidence for the Setu. Even now, they are preventing the exploration of truth by trying to close this issue out of fear of legal and political debacle.

If we publicly debate the erroneous beliefs of Muslims or Christians either scientifically, philosophically or historically, we would be arrested on the grounds of disturbing communal harmony. But the GOI officially makes statements such as lack of evidence for existence of Rama or Ramar Setu. They have continuously terrorized Hindus by publishing on their web site the progress of the project when Hindus were fighting it through peaceful means legally, socially and politically. We first need to demand an unconditional apology for this act of state terrorism against Hindus by trying to destroy a historical place of worship. We need assurance that Hindu places of worship will not be destroyed by any State or Central Government. What if the GOI tomorrow undertakes a road project cutting through Govardhan Hill? Do we have to prove to ASI that it was "manually" placed there or that there are human bones.

Second, we should call for freedom of speech to rationally analyze all the religions including Christianity and Islam just as the GOI made "pseudo-scientific" statements about Hinduism.

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It is an act of state terrorism against Hindus to destroy Ramar Setu
v_raja_ram, Sep 14, 2007 12:03 PM

There is ample evidence to show that Ramar Setu was worshipped through Indian history by Hindus and especially Tamils. So it is an act of state terrorism against Hindus to destroy Ramar Setu. This is as violent as attack on Bamiyan Buddha Statues by Taliban and we should project it as such to international community if the GOI does not stop terrorism.

Now, there is no historical evidence what so ever for the existence of Biblical Jesus and there is evidence to the contrary. There is no historical evidence that Quran is a revealed text and there is evidence to the contrary. Let the GOI answer if it is okay to offend their icons on this basis. Just because they are a vote bank, they get all support and reservation to top it. And just because the Hindus are introspective, their icons of worship get destroyed and their systems ridiculed.

Just because ASI says, the issue is not closed that Rama is a mythological personality. They offer three reasons:

1. Argument: There are no human bones / fossils in that area. Response: That actually proves that Ramayana is accurate because there was no deaths in that area. Even in places where there were human settlements, we dont see fossils proportionate to population density.

2. Argument: There are no man made artefacts. Response:That actually proves that Ramayana is accurate because there was no deaths in that area. Even in places where there were human settlements, we dont see fossils proportionate to population density. How does ASI expect to see human remains or fossils?

3. Argument: There is no evidence in the structures to show that it is not natural. Response: This is simply not true and ASI cannot say this because it have not done detailed archaelogical study of the place. There is enough evidence to show that it is not a natural structure which has been discussed in adequate detail in the bok on Ramar Setu.

We can do a computer simulation to show that it is not a natural formation but it would be too costly and it is not even the core point. Does the GOI recognize that it has a duty to protect our historical tradition irrespective of whether it believes in Rama or not?

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There is surely something more to it
rkohri, Sep 14, 2007 12:24 PM

As a rule any affidavit before it is filed in the court is carefully read and re-read by at least 8 to 10 government functionaries.

I have been a government officer and know from my personal that an affidavit to be filed in the Supreme Court is read, re-read and vetted by the Law Department and the Head of the Department -sometime even by the Law Minister.

I do not think this gratuitous insult to millions of Hindus by pouring ridicule on their faith and religious ethos is the fault of some simpleton wisecrack. There is surely something more to it than what meets the eye.

It is also being rumoured that some high level government official had sidelined he objectionable paras and suggested that these should be deleted.

Still the power-that-be decided not to delete the objectionable paragraphs.

What do you make of it?

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Pardon me, but is not secularism about Govt not interfering in Religious affairs?
goodjoke, Sunday , September 16, 2007

Ramachandra Guha,

You have said what other left leaning intellectuals have always said - Religion should be left in private domain and not brought into public domain. Fully agreed. But the problem is that the Non Rightist politicians never practice what they preach.

When you have a entire group of politicians and intellectuals, demanding reservation based on religion , is it not violating this principle? Look at the case of TN, where religious reservation has been introduced for Muslims (yes they may be not so well off) and Christians(who are actually doing much better than rest of population in every social parameter). Why is this not critiqued? Likewise, do politicians who believe in leaving religious debates in private domain, have the right to announce themselves as atheists and publicly ridicule the Gods and Godesses of Hindu Religion in public?

And not to mention Government running of Hindu Temples. Pardon me, but is not secularism about Govt not interfering in Religious affairs? Why should religious institutions be run by people who profess themselves to be secular, irreligious or atheist?

I would like an honest answer from you or your colleagues.It is these kind of contradictions and blatant hypocrisies that aid the Hindu Right to gain more mileage and more popularity. People expect fair treatment and consistency and not hypocrisy. If you really believe that religion and governance should be separated 100% (and I too believe that), let us show it in action. Starting from freeing Temples from Govt control.

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The new Ravana of our times
raj yashwant, Sunday , September 16, 2007

Karunadhi is the new Ravana of our times. He denies the existence of Ram which is what the actual Ravana did when his atrocities reached maximum proportion. That is what is happening In Tamil Nadu today. The demonic forces in the form of DMK and left are ruling Tamilnadu and perpetrating autrocities on the brahmins and weak forward sections of society and creating a litteral hell for nice people to live in Tamil Nadu. All the brahmins and other forward casts are fleeing tamilnadu to save their lives. But one should not fear as Lord Ram will be born again to take destroy DMK and it's demonic forces in the state.

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As long as the present government led by the Congress remains in power, with their appeasement of minorities and vote Bank politics, the truth regarding Ram Stehu would never see the light of the day
J.N. Kini, Sunday , September 16, 2007

Ramachandra Guha, makes a good TV savy " historian " but unfortunately does not make any sense when commenting on matters of the Hindu Gods and the faith. His conclusion that Ram is not acknowledged in South India takes the cake. The historian should have gone into the details of names of Rameswaram, Dhanushkodi, Ramapadam etc., But then again, what is there in a name, one might ask. Most of the names of places in India, are derived from either events local to the place or topography. The Ram Sethu in the interest of the majority of Hindus should remain just that as a matter of faith of the over eight hundred millions of Hindus.Apart from being the majority, Hinduism is what binds India together inspite of being a multilateral society. It is only in recent years (comparatively) thanks to the Dravidian Political movement, where in people were misinformed regarding Ram, specially in Tamil Nadu. To suit them, the DMK made Shri Ram a subject of aryan invasion over the dravidians. As long as the present government led by the Congress remains in power, with their appeasement of minorities and vote Bank politics, the truth regarding Ram Stehu would never see the light of the day. It would meet the same fate as Dwarka and Ayodhya.

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Your historian got it all wrong.
Mohan Nair, Sunday , September 16, 2007

It is factually incorrect to say that Sr Ram is not revered in South India . Your historian got it all wrong. It will be better if the participants stick to truth while discussing sensitive topics.

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Don't think that the science we have today can explain everything.
MPReddy on Sunday , September 16, 2007

For those Scientifically Einsteins and politically Sardarjis who were denying the existence of Rama sethu... First of all do you have scientific evidence to deny it? Don't think that the science we have today can explain everything. Through the ages humanity have lost many ancient arts and sciences. To name a few, we lost ancient metallurgy, pottery, weaponry etc.. Can you bring them back with your so called science? These mentally retarded & corrupted people cannot mutilate truth into a 'false' by shouting loud. Rama is God and his creations are much above the understanding of human beings.

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It is not uncommon to see archeological "evidences" being tempered, tampered and manipulated beyond recognition to suit the thinking of present rulers
Sunday , September 16, 2007

Forward looking intellectuals and journalists" are exceedingly keen to suggest that the past glories and pains should not in any way come to the present material existence and growth and emotions should give way to plain rationalism. Nothing can be more foolish than this. You can carry this logic only to some extent. After all human beings are not made up of just flesh and bone. What you call as "negative emotions" that hinder the present material existence and growth are just the opposite side of the coin i.e. "positive emotions" like intense human relationsships, respect for others and relaionship between humans and environment which Hinduism has ardently stood for. To detach emotions fully from human beings is stupid and impractical idea. If the idea of plain rationalism is to be adhered to, then all the elderly people who do not contribute to the society and sick people with no hope of recovery with the existing medical facilities should be done away with like what Hitle did.

And stories of yesterday's "scientific theories" becoming unscientific after a few years is not uncommon. This is not to deride the scientific advancements in toto. Further it is not uncommon to see archeological "evidences" being tempered, tampered and manipulated beyond recognition to suit the thinking of present rulers.

Every one knows who the real culprits are in offending affidavit drama. But the ruling UPA political establishment is too shy to admit this.It is not Ambika Soni or the law Minister. The two culprits are M.Karunanidhi and T.R.Balu Minister for Shipping and transportation.

* * *

Let us have a RAMRAJYA
sethuraman, Sunday , September 16, 2007

This govt. which is backed by the left, DMK (a minority govt. at the state), RJD, and other parties which really do not represent the real majority, since they totally represent only about 40%, of the votes cast decide the fate of our country.we have seen how MR Karunanidhi -the CM, only interested in advancing his family interest, which was throughly exposed very recently and who does not care for the interest of the hindu population and their sentiments.i only wish these irrelevant parties vanish.how can these people play with the sentiments of a vast majority of poor Hindus, a majority have been silent spectators.let us awake and throw these people, and let us have a RAMRAJYA

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Stop copying west and find out our soul.
Dr Vinod, Tuesday , September 18, 2007

When we stop copying west and find out our soul.

Real Gandhi was not a secularist he declared you cannot take the soul and keep the body alive. That is what exactly todays congress is doing. For vote share and to hung in power under the proud leadership of a foreign person cong lost the right to exist. Cong is expired.

Hindu Munnani exposes a brutal plot

THENKASI: December 17, 2006. Kumar Pandiyan was murdered. He had been organising Hindus to thwart the attempt of Muslims to build a mosque on temple land in Thenkasi in Tirunelveli district. August 14, 2007. His three brothers were killed in the same town. All the four were victims of Islamic terrorists. Government, police and politicians try to dismiss these determined Islamist attacks on Hindus as ‘fight between two families’. But Hindu Munnani has found out that the attacks on Hindus in that town took place even in 1952 and repeatedly thereafter. A few shocking attacks: (1) 1952: Muslims tried to take out Muharram procession through the temple mandap. Hindus, led by one Sankaran Pillai, vehemently opposed this. Riot broke out. Pillai had to flee Thenkasi as his life was in danger. (2) 1952: Muslims held Miladun Nabi meeting on a Hindu festival day right in front of the temple mandap. Hindus protested. False cases were clamped on Hindu elders. (3) Congress leader K. Kamaraj laid the foundation stone for an overhead tank in Thenkasi and Muslims built a mosque on the same spot. To this day, overhead tank could not be built. (4) 1986: Riots took place in Muharram procession when chappals and stones were hurled at freedom fighter Ramanatha Iyer and Ramanan MLA on South Street. Since then Muharram procession was stopped. But Hindus had to face cases for ten years. (5) Muslims are persistently trying to usurp temple land to build mosque. On 27-12-1990 permission was granted defying objection from majority of councillors in the municipal council. Kumar Pandiyan tried to mobilise Hindus against this invasion and he was murdered for that. (VSK Chennai)

Kerala Government targets Hindu Ashrams

8/3/2007 3:32:40 PM HK

Kottayam: Communist Government’s hypocrisy against Hindus is breaking all limits. When acres of land are encroached by Church and Communist Mafia, Government is penalising Hindu Ashrams and Temples raising faulty allegations.

In a recent move, Government directed eviction notice to legally owned land of Sri Rama Krishna Ashram in Mannakadu, Kottayam. 2.25 Acre land owned by the Ashram where, herbal garden and hospital is situated is now targeted by the Anti Hindu Government. The above said land is transferred to Ashram authorities by the special interest of Former Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi. Ashram is paying land tax since then.

Ashram Madathipathi Peethambara Acharya, SC-ST Aikya Vedi Chairman Aithyur Surendran condemned the new Government move to take over the Ashram land.

When the indisputable encroachment cases against AKG Centre,Church and Mosques in various parts are being toppled up, Government is trying to humiliate Hindu Ashrams with such illegitimate moves.

Acharya convicted before trial

By Anil M. Dave


The nation’s media has been preoccupied with various controversies
related to the Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamkoti Peetham for the last
couple of weeks. The entire media apparatus seems all afluster to
ensure that investigation into the accusations levelled by the Tamil
Nadu police against Shri Jayendra Saraswati may not contain any
lacunae.


A unique example of ‘Trial by Media’ has been presented before the
country. This flurry has successfully planted a doubt in the minds of
millions of readers and viewers and converted the Shankaracharya from
an accused to a convict. As a corollary, another doubt, that the
religion of the majority in this country has decayed and its centres of
faith are crumbling, has taken root. These doubts are amply
demonstrated in the initial statements of political parties who seem
defensive about the accusations levelled against the Shankaracharya
while the treatment meted out to him is being made a point of debate.
If anyone has questioned the veracity of the accusations, the sphere of
such queries has been within the bounds of Tamil politics.


Our police, famous for handling ordinary bureaucrats and Lilliputian
politicians with timid subservience, did not think twice before
launching a crusade against a centre of faith! Behind the obvious legal
tangle, are there any larger invisible issues which must be brought
forth by investigative scribes and reporters?


Those who negate the primacy of Kanchi Kamkoti Peetham are probably
ignorant of the fact that Adishankara, that unique organiser of India’s
cultural integration, had consecrated a ‘yoga lingam’
here and shed his mortal coils. The Mutt has a history of
two-and-a-half millennia. Even those who dwell eternally in coffee
houses and smoke away thousands of years of legacies, recognise the
progressive nature of the present Shankaracharya. In his tenure, the
Mutt has come forward as an institution working against inequality and
the caste system.

The Truth of Kanchi

Shri Jayendra Saraswati is the first Shankaracharya to partake of the hospitality of the downtrodden. He propagated the ‘tat twam-asi’ (Thou art He) theory of Adishankara which underlines the thought that no Hindu is partita
(fallen). A backward-looking orthodox section of the Hindu society was
forever annoyed with this revolutionary Shankaracharya for his
enthusiasm to embrace all and sundry. This however did not deter the
intrepid sanyasi in his efforts to make the Kanchi Mutt an institution of universal appeal.


Shri Jayendra’s leadership facilitated the proliferation of the
disciples of the Mutt all over the world. Through its various trusts,
the Mutt runs almost two hundred schools, various hospitals including
the world-famous Shankara Nethralaya and the Child Trust Hospital in
Chennai and Guwahati respectively, twenty-five colleges and a deemed
university. There is an international library in the deemed university,
which has material on every religion in the world for research. This
network of education and healthcare has spread not only in south India
but in states like Gujarat, Assam and other deprived areas also,
particularly those inhabited by forest-dwellers (Vanvasis).


There is a saying that a daughter-in-law when annoyed with her
mother-in-law hits her child instead. The onslaught on Shri Jayendra is
in a similar vein. The largest theocracy in the world is being run by a
superpower who uses economic and religious weaponry to realise its
military ambitions. This theocracy is now colluding with another—a
palace-state. This coalition, after an effort of a century, has
succeeded in converting 80 to 90 per cent of Indians in the north-east
to Christianity. They would not allow any doors to open for the
re-entry of these converts in the mainstream. The sinister designs of
this coalition were aptly discussed in a Delhi-based journal, Tehelka in its first issue. The questions raised therein are worth pondering upon.


If the Shankaracharya of Kanchi tries to open this closed door with the
instruments of education, health and service, is he not inviting
international vendetta? We have got used to the irritation of our
neighbour on the Kashmir issue. We still do not recognise the umbrage
this coalition takes at the new winds blowing from the mainstream in
our north-east.


Reduction of votes scares our political leaders and disturbance of law
and order terrifies our administrators. We have umpteen examples of the
above. The warrants against many a religious leader, criminal dons,
politicians rot in the police stations for years, waiting to be served.
The assurance behind the courage of Ms. Jayalalithaa must be probed and
understood by the one billion Indians.


Shri Jayendra made an honest effort to solve the Ayodhya question. He
is not one of those political flag-bearers of religion who wishes
merely to be seen or published. His desire for a solution has been
sincere and his attempts were innocent and proactive. This certainly
could annoy those who wished to keep India in a limbo of disturbance.
It is a proof of Shri Jayendra’s magnanimity that besides the Hindus, a
large number of Muslim religious leaders voiced their concern for his
case and pledged their support. No one else batted an eyelid. Why
wasn’t a candle lit by those who take out candle-lit processions over
minor issues, when a major spiritual centre of the country’s majority
is under attack?


Attacks have changed their character in modern times. Their targets are
hither but the bombing is thither. India’s powers-that-be and all
Indians must recognise these hidden attacks. The East India Company
employed the same strategy of pitching Indians against Indians and
through this covert war ruled our country for a hundred and ninety
years.


Albeit, no one shall have the gall to subjugate India ever again, but
we must not lose any of our fronts. These assailants from beyond our
boundaries take advantage of our constitutional system and expand with
the help of our own establishment. Once their expansion becomes
sustainable, they break the bonds of the Constitution and become
anti-establishment, resulting in terror tactics and violence. We have
seen this technique employed in Kashmir and the north-east. If our
leaders remain tongue-tied for fear of votes and ignore these breeders
of disquiet, despite realising their designs, then the people have no
option but to turn the applecart upside down.


There is a psychological problem with the majority in this country, as
accepted by many sociologists. We, Indians, fall prey to self-pity with
alacrity; we love self-criticism and lose faith easily. If we do not
free ourselves from this slipping into a sad mode, all dreams of
development shall die as mere plans. The silence of our society over
the arrest of Shri Jayendra Saraswati is a dangerous signal. The
British had no inkling in 1857 on how youth sprouted in the old veins
of India and a terrific movement shook the foundations of White rule!
It is necessary to ponder on all aspects of this subject. It is time to
recognise the truths and facets of covert and overt assaults, to search
for solutions and to ensure the defeat of all nefarious designs.

(The writer is a former adviser to Madhya Pradesh government.)

Is it a conspiracy to destroy Hindu heritage?

by Dina Nath Mishra

In India we have been callous towards our heritage and legacy. Destruction of setubandh has already started. International companies have been engaged. One should not be surprised if Ram setu is totally destroyed

What is Setu-Samudram project? The project envisages a path for ships between India and Sri Lanka by creating two sea-canals. Total length of the canal would be about 89 km. The cost of the project is Rs 24 billion. It would be managed by Setu-Samudram Corporation. Twenty per cent of the aid would come from the Centre.

Some contribution would come from four Tamil Port Trusts. The implementing authority would be the Tuticorin Port Trust. Public issue of Rs 3 billion would be managed by UTI Bank. Central Government would guarantee all loans raised by the Corporation. Navigational financial benefits are the moving force behind it. Increasing foreign trade, Indian ambition, as well as Tamil Nadu's development are cited as reasons for the project. Additional reasons being strategic needs.

There are objections to the project from Kerala as it saved Kerala from big apprehended loss of human life due to Tsunami, for the setubandh mellowed the Tsunami thrust. Environmental issues are also involved. The fishing community fears drop in their income. The biggest factor, which would play its own role, is that Setu-Samudram would destruct Ram setu, the invaluable human heritage. That apart, sentimental attachment of Hindus with Ram setu is also very relevant and they too are raising their voice against its destruction. This ambitious project is hanging in the balance for over a century. The NDA Government had also cleared it but the plan remained untouched. But when Manmohan Singh launched this project, it had under gone changes, which included destruction of Setu-Samudram.

The destruction of setubandh Rameshwaram is being carried out by foreign contractors. The Ramayana depicts this bandh vividly. It is a great center of Hindu pilgrimage since it was constructed by Shri Ram. Hindus are agitated over its ongoing destruction.

Setubandh might have been dismissed as mythology. But a few years back NASA based report released by PTI stated, "The NASA Shuttle has imaged a mysterious bridge between India and Sri Lanka, as mentioned in the Ramayana. The evidence, say experts matter of fact, is in the Digital Image Collection. The recently discovered bridge, currently named as Adam's Bridge and made of a chain of shoals, 30 km long, in the Palk Straits between India and Sri Lanka, reveals mystery behind it. The Bridge's unique curvature and composition reveals that it is man-made. Legend as well as Archeological studies reveal that the first signs of human inhabitants in Sri Lanka date back to about 1,750,000 years ago and the bridge's age is also almost equivalent."

However, the fact is that Hindu cosmogony contains descriptions of jal plavan or pralaya followed by total destruction. A small number of survivors had to perform the task of recreation unto them. The tectonic movements of plates also changed geography of the earth and impacted the history of human civilisation. After the great revelation of NASA, the Setubandh Rameshwaram has to be preserved as one of the greatest human heritage. The UN bodies care for such heritage. There are a number of international laws to preserve it. In Australia, the aboriginals as per their faith believe in some mountains to be as sacred as god. The Australian Government had to recognise their faith in mountain gods and the construction of national high way passing over these mountains was shifted.

Even before NASA's discovery, the existence of the setubandh was known. But NASA's revelations enthralled Indian heart and soul with a sense of pride in its history and civilisational development, including science, technology and architecture of ancient India. Had such discovery been related to any developed country, it would have opened floodgates of research. As per Hindu cosmogony it was during treta yug when the Ram setu was constructed. NASA has assessed the time frame as 17,50,000 years old.

In India we have been callous towards our heritage and legacy. The destruction of setubandh has already started. International companies have been engaged. One should not be surprised if Ram setu is totally destroyed in the name of building Tuticorin sea-port and a sea-canal between the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. There can be ways to save the setubandh as well as go ahead with the development.

But who cares for preservation of Hindu - heritage and sensitivities. About a month back, a person called Krishna Swarup Pandey came to me and showed me some documents. I was amazed, as the way the Government did every thing in a hurry. After Shankaracharyas and other saints started speaking on it, 140 Tamil Nadu organisations launched an agitation to save it. They are now approaching the Supreme Court with a PIL to save this great Indian heritage.

Islamic fanatics forcing Hindus to migrate from Poonch

From Khajuria S. Kant in Jammu

After forcing the Hindu community to migrate from Kashmir Valley, the Islamic forces are now forcing the Hindu community from Poonch and Rajouri districts to migrate with the help of local administration. The happening in Mendhar was a part of game plan aimed at forcing the Hindus to migrate and Islamisation of entire state.

The broad daylight grabbing of prime 12 Kanal and 17 Marlas land of Mahesh Chander Sharma who was associated with the ruling Congress party in presence of police and administration shows their laxity. The police and administration failure have created a sense of insecurity in the minds of the people.

A violent protest triggered in Mendhar, a border town, located close to the Line of Control on March 23 after the administration demolished two structures on private land of a Mahesh Chander Sharma allegedly encroached by Gousia-Ul Nizamnian Trust for Madrassa. Over two dozen persons including four cops were injured in the violent clashes and police resorted to cane-charge, teargas shelling and also fired in air for hours to quell the mob which pelted stones on the police and senior officers of local administration when they removed the encroachments on a piece of disputed land.

On March 24 in Mendhar, defying the prohibitory orders and court direction to maintain status quo on the disputed piece of land, thousands on members of majority community re-constructed one of the dismantled structures. The police and local administration remained mute spectator of the whole incident. The situation in entire Mendhar town remained tense. The members of minority community closed their business establishments and staged dharna against the police and administrative failure which led to re-construction of one of the demolished structures. Fearing threat to their lives, the members of minority community threatened to migrate to Jammu.

The situation became tense when atleast two thousand members of majority community after offering Friday prayers gathered at the disputed site under the leadership of NC MLA, Javed Rana. In a pre-planned attempt, they off loaded bricks and the building material at the site and started re-construction of the demolished Madrasa structure. Despite huge deployment of police and para-military jawans and prohibitory orders, the members of majority community continued the re-construction work till completion of the Pacca structure.

Senior police officer claimed that an FIR has been registered against over dozen persons.

On the other hand, to defuse the situation the owner of land Mahesh Chander Sharma was forced to donate two kanals of land to the Trust for construction of Madrasa during the meeting of members of both communities held at Headquarters of 33 Rashtriya Rifles under the ages of 14 Sector RR in presence of the officers of district administration last evening.

Accusing the Congress and National Conference (NC) for abrogation Mendhar situation, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had demanded that the NC MLA, Javed Rana and Congress leader, Zafar Ullah Khan should be arrested under Public Safety Act (PSA).

The demand was made by the BJP state chief, Ashok Khajuria at a press conference along with party vice president, Chander Parkash Ganga and Rajesh Gupta, Prabhari Poonch.

Don’t destroy our heritage

Sethusamudram Channel Project in Tamil Nadu has become a rallying point for Hindus, once again highlighting the total disregard of the UPA government to Hindu sensitivities. For the last three years Hindu organisations led by Hindu Munnani under the respected leader Shri Ramgopalan have been campaigning for the protection of Ram Sethu, which is the most ancient underwater bridge, believed to have been built by Shri Ram.

It is sacred for the Hindus. It is a living legend of our great heritage. And the gripping description of this astounding human endeavour has become the folklore of the great Hindu tradition.

The Valmiki Ramayana has a scintillating narrative of the marvellous saga in great details. The architect who led the construction was Nala, and this fact is referred to in the Mahabharata by Veda Vyasa.

Modern studies including satellite imageries of NASA have established the existence of the remains of the bridge. The dredging work for the Sethusamudram Project had to be abandoned thrice because of the machine getting damaged at the seabed hit by the mountain-like rock formations. The organisations demanding suspension of the Sethusamudram Project in its present format submitted a memorandum signed by over a million people to the President of India Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam in November last. With every passing day the popular outrage over the destruction of Ram Sethu is getting louder.

The demand for a relook into the Sethusamudram Project is not confined to religious leaders and Hindus. Millions of families of fishermen who eke out a living by the sea have formed a protest group under the banner Tamil Nadu Fishermen Sangh headed by Shri Kuppu Ram. Scientists and environmentalists are apprehensive of the huge damage the destruction of Ram Sethu can do to the mainland. It is believed that the tsunami impact was largely absorbed by this protective rock shield in the seabed. These scientists argue that a similar underwater quake in the Indian Ocean in future, in the absence of such natural protection, can submerge large parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. This will prove a cynical man-made tragedy, if in the name of development such natural protective wall in the sea is wantonly destroyed. Natural scientists are worried over the irretrievable loss of flora and fauna. It is feared that the Project will prove a calamity to large number of rare species in the sea. Archaeologists have expressed their desire to undertake further study on the authenticity and historicity of Ram Sethu.

Citing all these reasons the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK leader J. Jayalalithaa has opposed the Sethusamudram Project in its ongoing format. Thus opposition to the project has come from all quarters, political, religious, scientific, archaeological and environmental.

The BJP has appointed a committee under the former union HRD minister and senior party leader Dr Murli Manohar Joshi to ascertain the facts about the widespread apprehension and resentment at the impending destruction of the sacred monument. After visiting the site, speaking to a large cross section of people and assessing the economic and environmental impact, Dr Joshi in a letter to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh asked for the immediate suspension of work at the project site till it is redesigned incorporating the alternative plan to save the ancient structure.

Now what is it that makes the UPA so adamant as to not give any heed to these pleas? Is it enjoying a vicarious pleasure from the latent Hindu anguish? Or is it that it is determined to do anything and everything only to damage and destroy all traces of the great Hindu tradition? It is impossible to fathom that the government has not thought it prudent enough on its part to invite all the parties concerned and address the issue afresh and give it a relook, to satisfy all sections involved in the agitation. This is the least it can do as the organisations asking for a re-evaluation have a scientific and viable alternative plan.

But the government has taken a grand standing on the issue as if it is a matter of prestige. So far the agitationists have been peaceful and they have only been asking for negotiations. But this government, it seems, will retreat only in the face of Nandigram type of pro-active action.

The government’s intention is suspect because it has in the last three years either denied support or shelved a series of projects which would have richly added to our understanding of the past and writing, rather reconstruction of our history. This attitudinal allergy has done immense damage to the hallowed heritage site of Hampi, the UPA has folded up the ambitious Saraswati River Project on purely political considerations. As commented on a number of occasions on these columns, it refused funding to the prestigious and path-breaking Dwaraka offshore archaeology excavation project. In the budget session of Parliament, Minister for Culture Smt Ambika Soni informed the Rajya Sabha that she was not aware and was not interested in finding out if there was a Ram Sethu off Rameshwaram, though Hindus all over the world believe and worship it. What is the message that one gets from all these? Is it that the government is uninterested in preserving and studying India’s ancient heritage? Or is it wary of their political significance? And more plainly put, is it also part of UPA’s vote bank agenda? Whatever be the consideration, the Sethusamudram episode has once again brought the central government face to face with the national resolve to protect Ram Sethu.

Hindus protest CPM takeover of temples

KERALA NEWSLETTER
By S. Chandrasekhar

There is a popular proverb in Malayalam, which says, “The eyes of the fox are always on the chicken nest”. Similarly, ever since the CPM came into power, its eyes were on the 1200 odd major temples which are administered by the Travancore and Kochi Dewaswom Boards. Among these is the Sabarimala Temple whose bank deposits runs into thousands of crores of rupees, not to mention the enormous landed property, gold, diamonds and silver owned by most of the temples.

After discussions in the LDF and cabinet, the government sent the ‘Travancore-Cochin-Hindu Religions Institutions’ Ordinance to the Governor on January 31 for signing. The ordinance, which is a humiliation to the Hindus, disbands the Travancore and Cochin autonomous Devaswom Boards, curtains their new term (when constituted) from four to two years, and includes a woman member in the Boards. Till the new board is constituted (which will not take place early) the government will be in total control of the temple finances and its administration. The CPM regime had tried to take over the Christian/Muslim professional colleges by a Self Financing Colleges act, which had incurred their wrath and which was struck down by the High Court. Now, the CPM wants to please the minorities (who effectively are the majority) by bringing an anti-Hindu act.

Despite protests from RSS, HAV, BJP and SNDP (representing Hindu Ezhavas), the Governor R.L. Bhatia signed the Ordinance on February 4.

The Hindu Aikya Vedi (HAV), umbrella organisation of almost 175 Hindu outfits has announced massive agitations against this war on Hindutva. They have announced February 5 as ‘Black Day’ and a week long protest. On February 14 thousands of Hindu leaders will observe ‘Fast Satyagraha’ outside the Secretariat.

VHP General Secretary, Kummanam Rajasekharan, has said that the ordinance is a gimmick to control temple wealth and funds by the CPM. He said only believers have the right to control their temples and the CPM, who declare themselves, as atheists, should not meddle in temple affairs. Calling the CPM partisan, he said, if the CPM has guts, let it take over churches and mosques which are administered by Christians and Muslims directly. Former Chief Minister and NCP national vice-president K. Karunakaran has opposed the ordinance saying it is an affront on Hindus and will hurt their sentiments. He said it is not a mere Hindu issue, but one linked with freedom of worship guaranteed by the Constitution.

Tranvancore Devaswom Board president, G. Raman Nair and HAV are approaching court for quashing the ordinance.

In another major attack on Hindutva, thanks to IUML Minister at the Centre E. Ahmed’s conspiracy, the CBI had declined to take up the Marad case for investigation.

On May 2, 2003, in the fishing hamlet of Marad near Kozhikode, 8 Hindu fishermen were brutally massacred by jehadi elements drawn from parties ranging from Muslim League to CPM. Due to continuous protests by Hindu organisations, a Judicial Commissioner was constituted. The Judicial Commissioner Justice Thomas P. Joseph gave his report to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in April 2006. Oommen Chandy who convened a Special Session of the Assembly for passing a resolution for Madhani’s release, but did not put the report in the Assembly’s table. The Justice has strongly indicted Islamic militancy groups and IUML role in the Marad carnage and asked for CBI, IB, RAW, DRI and other central agencies to probe into inter-state/ISI/PAK role in the carnage, sources of funds, conspiracy angle etc. etc.

The CPM which earlier opposed CBI probe (since several of its Muslim cadres were involved in the attack) accepted the report and sent the case to CBI for investigation.

The Indian Union Muslim League had, since the beginning opposed CBI probe. Its leaders like Kunjalikutty and Mayin Haji were directly involved in the attack. E. Ahmed, now Union Minister, opened the sealed Marad mosque and offered Namaz. It was sealed since large quantities of weapons were seized from there. Kunjalikutty, had, then openly asked, “If CBI probe comes, will I be arrested and questioned?”

Ahmed has exhorted maximum pressure on the UPA, and the CBI’s refusal to take up the case is a result of IUML’s game-plan. It doesn’t want CBI probe at any cost.

BJP state president, P.K. Krishnadas says that CBI’s contention that three years have elapsed since the incident took place is not valid, since Sister Abhaya (Nun raped and murdered in convent) and Naxalite Varghese murders went to CBI after several years. He said IUML has opposed CBI probe from the very beginning and CBI probe is needed to prevent more Marads. He also called for a Police-Army joint operation in Kerala to crackdown the Islamic militants training camps run by the NDF.

The CPM which came to power getting support of all extremist and Islamic militants outfits, is now promising moon to the 150 Marad accused lodged in prison. Rs. 65 lakh have been allotted to their families and the monthly visits by relatives have been increased to 10. A separate hospital has been provided for them. Before long they will be lodged as ‘State Guests’ in Government Guest Houses and provided VIP food and A/c comfort! Despite the Judicial Commission naming Hilal Mohammed, an NRI, as the financier of the Marad carnage, the CPM has taken no effort to arrest him or book him. Vote Bank Appeasement, thy name is CPM!

The whole country is opposed to demolition of Ram Sethu, says K.S. Sudarshan

The Central Government has various alternatives with regard to the Sethu Samudaram Project and it should take every step to save the historic bridge, which protects the country even from tsunami.

RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri K.S. Sudarshan alleged that the Ram Sethu was being demolished so that the US establish its control in the Indian Ocean.

He was addressing the concluding ceremony of a joint-meeting of Himalaya Parivar, Bharat-Tibet Sahayog Manch, Nepali Sanskriti Parishad, Sindhu Darshan Yatra Samiti, Ganga Mahasabha and Hindu-Buddhist Coordination Committee in New Delhi on April 8.

More than 150 representatives from these organisations were present on the occasion. Dr Ranvir Solanki, Principal, Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar College, presided over the meeting. Shri Sidharth Gautam of Himalaya Parivar (Nepal), Dr Bhagwan Singh Mosal of Delhi University, vice president of Bharat Tibet Sahayog Manch, Shri Yashu Phunsuk and former chairman of National SC/ST Commission, Dr Vijay Sonkar Shastri, Dr Kuldip Agnihotri and Shri Ashok Chaurasia were also present on the occasion.

The Sarsanghachalak said the whole country was against the demolition of Ram Sethu by the Central Government. The saints are planning massive agitations against it. He said the Central Government has various alternatives with regard to the Sethu Samudaram Project and it should take every step to save the historic bridge, which protects the country even from tsunami. He stressed the need to undertake a mass awareness campaign across the country against the Sethusamudram Project.

Convener of Himalaya Parivar and member of RSS Rashtriya Karyakarni, Shri Indresh Kumar said India should demand liberation of Kailash Mansarovar from China. He said China has illegally occupied 139,000 sq. miles of Indian land and efforts should be made to take it back. He appealed to the organisations to enhance brotherhood and samarastata among various castes, cultures and traditions of the Himalayan region. Shri Indresh Kumar also expressed concern over the efforts to demolish the centuries old Ram Sethu.

Shri Chidanand Muni of Parmarth Niketan, Haridwar, stressed the need to launch a massive awareness campaign across the country for the protection of Ram Sethu. He assured full cooperation in any activity launched to protect the historic Sethu. The noted saint pointed out that during the recent Kumbha in Prayag more than six lakh plastic bags and bottles were used. He said now the Ganga water has also become polluted due to the Tehri Dam.

The meeting adopted five resolutions. In the first resolution, it appealed to the Government of India to pressurise China to speak to the Dalai Lama and restore the Tibetans’ fundamental rights. In the second resolution, the meeting appealed to the Central and all the state governments to enact stern anti-terror laws and implement them. The resolution also strongly objected to any move to withdraw army from Kashmir. In the third resolution, the meeting demanded ban on deforestation and said that more trees should be planted in the Himalayan region by the government, NGOs and people. The fourth resolution demanded that, the pilgrimage to various Hindu and Buddhist religious places situated in the Himalayan region should be promoted. The fifth resolution, demanded peaceful and fair elections in Nepal to strengthen democracy. The resoluton said that the Maoists should join the government with full faith in democracy and the office of the Dalai Lama should be re-opened in Kathmandu. (FOC)

Confront the anti-Hindus - The only way to rescue Hinduism

By J.G. Arora

How do you remove enactments and laws which discriminate against Hindus? How do you dismantle fake secularism to liberate India from crores of Pak-Bangla infiltrators and countless terrorists, and all other oddities touted as secularism? And how do you defeat anti-Hindu forces wiping off Hinduism from the earth?

Though as per Arnold Toynbee, “Civilizations die from suicide, not murder”, Hindu civilization is being murdered by anti-Hindu forces every day.

A unilateral war against Hinduism is being waged by anti-Hindu forces to wipe out Hinduism the way other native religions and cultures have been destroyed in the world. It is tragic that frontiers of Hinduism which used to extend from Afghanistan to Indonesia are shrinking and getting confined to less and less area.

But Hinduism can be saved. And it will be saved. Before planning its rescue, let us know the dangers faced by Hinduism.

Dangerous dimensions

Starting with a zero Muslim population, Indian sub-continent including the present day India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Afghanistan and even a part of Iran was Hindu land till Muhammad bin Qasim’s Arab army attacked Sindh in 711. And though Hindus fought bravely to defend their religion and motherland during the repeated attacks over the centuries, they lost Afghanistan (earlier known as Gandhar) in 987 and Pakistan in 1947.

At present, just five thousand Hindus and Sikhs are left in Afghanistan. And Pakistan and Bangladesh have driven out most of the Hindus and Sikhs from their land. In India, the present percentage of Muslim population is much higher than that was in 1947.

And independent India has seen genocide and eviction of Hindus from Kashmir. Besides, India has been facing frequent Pak-Bangla terrorist attacks; the latest attack on July 11, 2006 killed over 200 innocents in Mumbai. Moreover, in their mission to destroy India and create one more Islamic country on Indian soil, Pakistan and Bangladesh have dispatched countless terrorists and crores of their nationals into India.

And recently, Nepal, the world’s only Hindu country, has been divested of its Hindu identity.

If Pakistan and Bangladesh are focussed to Islamise India, missionaries are determined to Christianise India.

While addressing his followers in New Delhi in 1999, the late Pope John Paul II gave a call to convert Asia to Christianity. And the new Pope Benedict XVI has also reiterated conversion agenda. Hindus and India are favourite targets for evangelization by fraud and inducement.

With each passing day, India is being made more Islamic and more Christian and less Hindu.

Fake secularism

After fighting foreign invaders for over a thousand years; and losing Afghanistan and Pakistan, truncated Bharat was expected to re-assert itself after 1947. But after 1947, a perverse brand of ‘secularism’ which implies ‘anti-Hinduism’ has seized India.


Let us have a glimpse of this fake secularism.

Though a ‘secular state’ cannot promote or punish any religion, in 1959, Congress government under Jawaharlal Nehru started the “Haj subsidy” for Haj pilgrimage. Though even Muslim countries do not pay any such subsidy, successive governments have persisted with this anti-secular policy.

The same Congress which rejected “Communal Award” and separate electorates in 1932 is now spearheading anti-secular reservation for Muslims in government jobs. Besides, Congress is sharing power with Muslim League which had created Pakistan. Further, under pretext of ‘secularism’, the government has taken no action to deport crores of Pak-Bangla infiltrators threatening to create one more Islamic country on Indian soil.

Moreover, though ‘secularism’ implies separation of State and religion, several Hindu temples and institutions have been brought under government control whereas non-Hindu institutions are bestowed special privileges.

Further, Article 30 giving special privileges to minorities’ educational institutions is fragmenting Hindu society since various Hindu sects claim non-Hindu status to get benefit of Article 30. Shockingly, even Ramakrishna Mission, the leading Hindu organization, had claimed a minority (non-Hindu) status to fall under Article 30. And no action, whatsoever, has been taken to amend Article 30 to extend the relevant fundamental right to all the communities including Hindus.

Anti-Hindu media

In any modern democracy, media is the most potent weapon of attack and shield of defence.

In India, many of the print and the electronic media is controlled by anti-Hindu forces; and is denigrating Hinduism, spreading misinformation about Hindu scriptures, dividing Hindu society and hurting Hindu sentiments. Hindus are being brain-washed to forget their religion, heritage and history; and Hinduism is being distorted and destroyed in the process.

Killing of thousands of Hindus in Kashmir and eviction of several lacs of Hindus from Kashmir is no news whereas Gujarat riots which started after Hindu rail passengers were torched at Godhra is always in the news in media. Infiltration of crores of Pak-Bangla nationals threatening to create one more Islamic country on Indian soil finds no space in media. Similarly, conversion of poorer Hindus to Christianity by fraud, inducement and coercion creates no ripples in anti-Hindu media.

It is deplorable that though there are numerous country-wide newspapers and television channels promoting fake secularism, there is no all-India daily newspaper, or television channel projecting Hindu concerns.

Hindu indifference

De-Hinduised by Macaulayan education and brain-washed by anti-Hindu media, most Hindus know nothing about Hindu religion, Hindu scriptures, Hindu heritage and Hindu history, and therefore, are indifferent to attacks on Hinduism. Besides, material pursuit and consumerism have consumed Hindu society. For many modern Hindus, world means their small families, their personal advancement, frivolous entertainment, and no time for betterment of Hindu society. That is why though individually talented, Hindus lack collective identity and power.

Moreover, since most Hindus are having one child or two children families, dwindling Hindu population has also weakened Hindu society.

Further, instead of defending Hinduism from relentless attacks, most Hindu religious leaders propagate unilateral universalism, tolerance, and the myth that all religions are the same, thereby facilitating fraudulent conversion of Hindus by anti-Hindu sections. Such falsities weaken Hindus; and make them surrender before their tormentors.

Likewise, lulled into complacence, many Hindus feel that Hinduism has survived for thousands of years, and will continue to flourish for ever. But they overlook the worst ever attacks now threatening Hinduism, and Hinduism’s pitiable plight in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh which too used to be Hindu lands.

The only solution

Since those who behave like sheep are eaten by wolves, to defend Hinduism, Hindus have to confront anti-Hindu forces.

But how do you educate Hindus about malicious attacks; and prepare them to confront anti-Hindu forces?

How would you Hinduise those who have been de-Hinduised by Macaulayan education, and brain-washed by anti-Hindu media? And teach them Hindu religion, Hindu heritage and Hindu history; and how one would make such reluctant warriors defend Hinduism and create a genuinely secular political party which would give justice to all and appease none? How do you remove enactments and laws which discriminate against Hindus? How do you dismantle fake-secularism to liberate India from crores of Pak-Bangla infiltrators and countless terrorists, and all other oddities touted as secularism? And how do you defeat anti-Hindu forces wiping off Hinduism from the earth?

All this, and much more, can be achieved with the help of Hindu-centric mass media which will inspire and transform Hindu society.

Such a media is the first requirement to awaken Hindus from their secular stupor, and make them pro-active. All the problems facing Hindu society will be solved with the help of this media. Helped by this weapon, Hinduism will not only survive, but will prevail. Since web-sites and internet have very limited reach, the same should be used in addition to the proposed mass media. Accordingly, all pro-Hindu organisations and individuals all over the globe should direct their time, efforts and resources to create the all-India Hindu-centric daily news papers and television channels at the earliest. And it is possible to accomplish this task very soon.

Though it may sound a too simple solution, this is the only way to save Hinduism from its ongoing demolition.

And there is no other way to rescue Hinduism.

(The author can be contacted at jgarora@vsnl.net)

CIA funds religious conversions in India

United News of India
Madurai, August 23, 2006

Launching a blistering attack on the US for imposing its culture and value system on other nations, RSS Chief KS Sudharshan has charged the CIA with funding large-scale conversions in the country.

American Baptists were engaged in a grand project of religious conversion, christened as Joshua I, with the patronage of the Bush administration, he alleged, addressing a symposium on Empowerment of Hindu Intelligentsia organised as part of the Golwalkar centenary celebrations at Madurai on Tuesday night.

According to him, the project envisaged a church initially in each locality having a post office and then between a cycling distance.

Turning his ire on Muslims, he warned of the 'serious consequences' of Bangladeshi immigrants, affecting the demographic profile of Assam, West Bengal and Bihar. In Assam alone 10 out of 18 districts have witnessed an alarming rise in the proportion of Muslims, he claimed.

Expressing hope that a Hindu renaissance would blossom by the year 2011, he called upon the intelligentsia to spread 'Hindu Dharma'.

Former Union Minister Arun Shourie, speaking on Media and Hindu Intelligentsia, said intellectual work should be an instrument for acquiring political power. As such, all efforts should be doubled and directed at achieving this and the current situation remained the most opportune and favourable one to realise that, he felt.

Stating that more than 50 years of secular discourse had done great harm to the nation, he said Hindu tradition had been denied its due space in mainstream media, which was insensitive to the national cause.

The mess the UPA is creating

The Moving Finger Writes
By M.V. Kamath

An earnest prayer to the UPA is: Kindly stop dividing people. It is unbecoming of you. The British in their time did it and we know with what consequences. Let it not be said that like the Bourbons, the Congress has learnt nothing and forgotten nothing.

It is painful to say so, but it has to be said before it is too late. The Congress-led UPA government is leading the country into a mess from which, if immediate action is not taken, it may become very hard to extricate ourselves. This is stated more in sadness than in anger. To the ordinary citizen it is not which party is in power but which party is exerting to keep the people together in the pursuit of peace, prosperity and national unity above all.

In this regard the Congress failure is writ all over its face. And the reaction is, to state it in plain terms, frightening. National unity is not achieved through dividing society into castes, forward, backward or scheduled. It is not achieved by insisting on reservations to particular castes or communities not only in educational institutions but even in private enterprises. That is not government. That is plain dictatorship. It only spurs deep resentment and discontent among people to no one’s advantage. To openly talk about increased appointment of Muslims in the Armed Forces is to make Muslims more conscious of their religious attachments and create a sense of unwantedness in their minds.

Alienation among Muslims is growing to the point that in Uttar Pradesh, a group of Muslim outfits have launched their own Islamic political party misleadingly called Peoples Democratic Front. Their charge is that all these years Muslims have been treated as a vote bank by various political parties and they will not stand it any longer. Muslim separatism is raising its ugly head all over again.

It may be worth remembering that the last time the Leftists were in power in Kerala they helped redraw district boundaries so that within the State there will be at least one district which has a Muslim majority. Now a section of Muslims in Andhra Pradesh is demanding that should the State be further divided with the creation of Telangana, then Hyderabad city must be given the status of a ‘City State’, presumably with a Muslim majority. People have stopped thinking of themselves as Indians. They are coming to think of themselves as Muslims or members of this or that community.

Even as the proposed Peoples’ Democratic Front(PDF) was getting organised, its self-appointed chairman, Maulana Kalbe Jawwad, a prominent Shia cleric was talking of how the Uttar Pradesh government of Mulayam Singh Yadav was biased. As Jawwad saw the situation, in recent times as many as 1,800 constables were recruited by the State of whom nearly 1,000 were Yadavs and only 30 (thirty) Muslims. Jawwad is reported as saying: “If the seven per cent Yadavs in the State and 12 per cent Dalits can occupy power in Uttar Pradesh, why can’t the 22 per cent Muslims do so?” This exclusiveness is spreading and is getting the support of important Muslim leaders like the Shahi Imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid, Ahmed Bukhari who has been named as the PDF’s patron. At this rate we will soon have parties not based on economic ideologies, but on caste, creed and religion.

The move to form a separate Islamic political party should not be treated lightly. The message will spread fast. Attending the meeting held to establish the PDF were some important Muslim leaders like the Imam of Masjid Teela Shah, president of the Jamat-e-Islami, President of the Majlis-e-Mashawarat, President of the All-India Muslim Forum, President of Parcham Party and President of the Indian National Muslim League.

The original Muslim League led by M.A.Jinnah went about systematically to destroy the unity of India that was eventually to lead to Partition, wholesale bloodshed and ethnic cleansing in what became Pakistan and that decades-old hatred has still not died out. What the PDF will do is anybody’s guess. But the nation is warned.

The Muslim League did poorly in the 1937 elections to the Legislative Assemblies. It is also true that in the late thirties and early forties it was the British raj that was in power and which encouraged Islamic separatism. But when Muslims continue to think of themselves as a neglected minority and apply themselves to the task of demanding all sorts of benefits, rightly or wrongly, the nation will be forced to pay a heavy price.

Minoritism is an evil that should under no circumstances be tolerated. Caste or religion-based political parties should be immediately banned. They are a menace to the unity of India.

The UPA government has stooped to such a low level of politicising religion that the Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Shri A.R.Antulay seems determined to impart—or impose—minority status on Jains, who have not even asked for it.

As recently as August 2005, a Supreme Court Bench, comprising of then Chief Justice, Shri R.C.Lahoti and Justices D.M.Dharmadhikari and P.K.Balasubrahmanyam had directed the national and State-level Minority Commissions to find ways of first reducing and ultimately ending the listing of notified minorities, rather than increasing them. In India there are no minorities. There are only Indians. And any political party based on religious grounds must be immediately banned, no matter under what misleading title it is formed.

The trouble is that the Congress appears to have lost all sense of direction. Knowing what led to Partition, the Congress should have been the first to discourage minoritism under any guise. Even to have a Minority Ministry is itself symbolic of a mindset out to divide people.

The PDF wants to know how come so few Muslims were chosen as constables in Uttar Pradesh. It should have first checked out how many Muslims did, in fact, apply for the jobs in the constabulary and of them how many were eligible. It is sixty years since India became free. In these sixty years what did the Muslim leadership do to create jobs for Muslims? Was it necessary to set up madrasas in every town and village when the demand is increasingly not for knowing how many passages from the Quran one can recite but how good is the youngster at mathematics? When will Muslims understand that to get on in life one must get on with modernity?

The UPA government must spend lavishly on setting up primary schools and encourage every low-income family to send its sons and daughters to get higher education by providing financial incentives. In due course—say, a couple of decades—minority students, so-called will be able to gain self-confidence and get seats in institutes of higher learning in their own rights. For a nation some 10,000 years old, a couple of decades count for nothing. An earnest prayer to the UPA is: Kindly stop dividing people. It is unbecoming of you. The British in their time did it and we know with what consequences. Let it not be said that like the Bourbons, the Congress has learnt nothing and forgotten nothing. This is not a party matter. It deals with the vary essence of national unity and concerns all of us determined to stop further divisions of the country.