With less than six months to go for the Lok Sabha elections, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in a show of strength organised a largely attended Janaagraha Sabha's rally in Bengaluru on Sunday. The rally has been projected as a “Hindu public referendum” asking the Narendra Modi government to pass an ordinance for the construction of a Ram Mandir in the disputed site of Ayodhya. The Supreme Court had earlier refused to decide on the matter on an urgent basis, as asked by the Centre. The BJP had also spoken publicly that they are not keen on bringing an ordinance as of now.
The speakers of Sunday’s event held at the National College Grounds in the city included Akhileshwaranandagiri Maharaj from Jabalpur, Mukundji CR, Saha Sarkaryavahs of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Milindi Parande, General Secretary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Vijayalakshmi Deshmane, president of Karnataka South of the VHP as keynote speakers. Vishwesha Theertha of Pejawar Mutt was in attendance among heads of other mutts. Other than men and women from Bengaluru, there were visitors from neighbouring districts as well who came to pledge for the cause. BJP MLA and senior leader Suresh Kumar was one of the top BJP leaders who attended the meet.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi should convene a meeting with religious leaders to discuss the Ram Mandir issue. The Centre should convene a joint session of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha to take a decision. Religious leaders should sit on a fast if Mr. Modi does not convene the meetings. We are not communal, but peace lovers,” Pejawar Mutt seer Vishwesha Tirtha Swami said to media
Addressing the crowd, Akhileshwarananda said, “We will not disrespect the Supreme Court. We won’t disrespect the Geeta of the country— the Constitution but if someone tells this is not a matter of our priority, we will not tolerate that.”
The VHP on October 5 had called for the holding of a convention in each Lok Sabha constituency to generate public opinion and force the Centre to pass a ordinance on the temple at the disputed site. Sunday’s rally was originally scheduled to be held on November 25 but was postponed due to the demise of actor-politician Ambareesh.
