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Gujarat
Events State Terrorism: Top Hindu Religious Leader
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Shankaracharya
Shri Aadhog Shajananda of Shri Govardhan Math |
By
IOL South Asia Correspondent
NEW
DELHI, March 1 (IslamOnline) - A top Hindu religious leader described the
anti-Muslim riots in the Indian state of Gujarat as 'state terrorism' and
demanded the organization behind these events be banned.
Shankaracharya
Shri Aadhog Shajananda of Shri Govardhan Math said in a statement Friday,
“Whatever happened in Godhara (Gujarat) on Wednesday is highly condemnable and
barbaric.”
“Subsequent
mob attacks all over Gujarat during bandh call of Vishua Hindu Parishad (VHP) on
minorities and their properties with direct assistance of VHP office-bearers and
police on Thursday is still more saddening as it could be termed as state
terrorism.”
In
Ahmedabad, the largest city of Gujarat, over 250 people were murdered and dozens
burned, mostly Muslims. The Indian authorities called in the army to restore
order. But the army has been deployed in only four cities out of 36 cities in
the state which are under curfew while extremist Hindus are still on the rampage
to 'avenge' the alleged involvement of 'Muslims' in the train incident on
Wednesday in which Temple volunteers were attacked by people of the washermen
community after the volunteers misbehaved with their women.
The
Hindu pontiff said that the Government of Gujarat should have captured the
culprits of Wednesday and it was duty-bound to save the innocent people and
uphold the rule of law. But it miserably failed to do so, purely as a result of
political thinking.
He
added that “Provocative actions of VHP in the pious name of tolerance-oriented
Hindu religion is the root cause of it. Should VHP be allowed to denigrate the
world renowned Vedic philosophy and Hindu culture just because their fraternal
political organ, BJP, has started losing power in various states?”
He
went on to say that the BJP would never be forgiven by the majority Hindu
community for allowing the VHP to misuse religion in the name of Lord Ram who
was a personification of humanity.
“Gujarat
is burning in communal riots and if VHP and similar organizations are not
checked immediately. The country would start burning and unfortunately there is
no good political leader whose advice would be listened to. As such for the sake
of unity and communal harmony and in order to save Hindu religion from further
denigration, VHP should be banned, like SIMI (Student Muslim Body), and all
their so-called leaders and activists should be arrested forthwith under
National Security Act,' the Hindu pontiff said.
He
observed that the international community would suspect the intentions of the
Government of India and its resolve to fight against terrorism if BJP continues
supporting covertly the riot mongering VHP.
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