http://autofeed.msn.co.in/pandoraV15/output/7D27CDDE-A475-4F77-83F6-5C1536E9379F.asp
New Delhi(Feb 22):Beginning on an aggressive note, VHP’s Dharam Sansad meeting to decide the future course of Ram temple movement on Saturday demanded renaming of India as Hindustan and “restoration of honour of Hindu rashtra”.
“One crore Ram bhakts should be created for restoration of honour of Hindu rashtra for which they should be ready to sacrifice anything, even their head,” firebrand VHP leader Praveen Togadia said.
“We need to rename India as Hindustan so that India’s honour is restored.. It should be declared a Hindu rashtra,” he said.
Attacking the NDA government for “appeasing Muslims”, Togadia said a “new Mahabharat has to be fought in which Hindus will be pitted against communists, socialists and beggars of Muslim votes”.
He said there was need for a social and political change and called for educating people to eliminate dowry, untouchability and casteism.
Earlier VHP leader Acharya Dharmendra said 'Hindustan belonged to Hindus, it still belongs to Hindus and will always belong to Hindus". He warned the Government of confrontation if Ram Temple movement is obstructed in any way.
Though VHP’s demand to hand over to it the undisputed land acquired by the Centre at Ayodhya by February 22 deadline has not been fulfilled, the government’s move to get vacated Supreme Court stay on religious activities there and its high level parleys with RSS top brass are expected to cool down aggressive tempers, sources said.
The reported findings of the expert committee, which VHP chief Ashok Singhal claimed, favoured its stand that a temple existed at the disputed site had also added to the outfit’s hope of a positive and early verdict in the case, they said.
However, having whipped up the sentiments of Hindu religious leaders, the two-day meeting is expected to announce its symbolic ‘jan andolan’ (people’s movement) on the issue across the country, the sources said.
The meeting, which began amid chanting of Vedic hymns and singing of devotional songs, would conclude with a public rally tomorrow and is likely to be followed by a protest march to Parliament by religious leaders on Monday.
Over 10,000 Hindu religious leaders from different parts of the country and Nepal besides VHP’s top brass are attending the meeting.
Delhi police and personnel of Rapid Action Force have thrown a tight security ring around the Ramlila Maidan, the venue of dharam sansad to prevent any untoward incident.