Mangalore, Jan 8: Alleging the Congress-led Karnataka government of being anti-Hindu, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) international working president Dr Pravin Togadia warned the government of a backlash by the Hindu community, if it tried to harass Hindus in the name of attacking the opposition BJP in the state.
Speaking at a press conference here on Wednesday, the Hindutva leader said that the government had started targeting Hindu workers of different Hindu organisations in Karnataka by booking them under different sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC) in order to harass and humiliate the Hindu movement.
“I advise Congress leaders to rethink your government's behaviour in Karnataka. The Congress in the state is anti-Hindu, attracting strong democratic backlash against them. We are here to protect and lead Hindus, and defeat all anti-Hindu forces by all democratic means,” he said, criticising the Congress for being anti-Hindu.
It may be right for Congress government to fight against the BJP in a democracy, but if it tries to target the Hindu society in name of religion, there will be backlash, he warned.
'Congress should not manage mutts, mandirs'
Speaking on the management of religious mutts in the state, he said that the Congress-led government was trying to take over the Hindu mutts and mandirs.
It is none of the business of the secular government to manage religious institutions, although no government has so far dared to take over any church and mosque. The government trying to manage the temples is discriminating to Hindus and against the secular concept of the state. Any such effort by the state government will be strongly protested throughout the country, he warned.
“We will not tolerate any interference of the secular government in religious matters,” he said.
'Anti-superstition bill targets Hindus'
Criticising the proposed anti-superstition bill, he said that the bill also targeted Hindus in the name of superstitions. If the government goes ahead with it, there will be strong protests, he said.
He also criticised the controversial anti-communal violence (Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence) bill which was recently cleared by the Cabinet. “The bill is not against communal violence, it is against Hindus, proposed under Muslim pressure. We oppose it,” he stated.
Law against cow slaughter
Mr Togadia also demanded a central law against cow slaughter and conversion, which would be applicable in all states of the country.
In response to a query in connection with the case registered on local saffron leader Kalladka Prachakar Bhat, Mr Togadia reacted by stating that IPC sections should not be applied politically or against religious Hindu organisations. The police department should not register cases against Hindu leaders. This is objectionable, he said.
Regional VHP and Bajrang Dal leaders were present in the press conference.
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