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News : Archive (June 2003)
- Most Wanted: Justice
Gujarat’s Best Bakery case shows the criminal justice system at its worst
Editorial, The Indian Express, June 30, 2003
We need to turn the searchlight on a process of justice that winds up in a blind alley when it doesn’t drag on endlessly. Gujarat 2002 must be rescued from ending up like Delhi 1984 or Bombay 1993. Because the burden of unrequited justice is becoming too heavy for the nation.
- First verdict in post-Godhra riots cases says 'Not Guilty'
HT Correspondent, June 27, 2003
In a judgment of far-reaching consequences for post-Godhra riot-related cases, a fast-track court in Vadodara on Friday acquitted all the 21 accused in the Best Bakery massacre. Twelve members of the minority community were burnt alive in the massacre.
- Gujarat Hindus acquitted
BBC Online, June 27, 2003
A court in the western Indian state of Gujarat has acquitted 21 Hindus accused of burning alive 12 Muslims in a bakery last year.
- Ayodhya & the paradox of Indian polity
By Harbans Mukhia, The Hindu, June 27, 2003
Those who understand Indian culture and history — and the VHP is not among them — know that extremism is completely alien to all its religions... It is to this history that India needs to return.
- Blast rocks Ahmedabad ahead of 'Rath Yatra'
Indo-Asian News Service, Ahmedabad, June 26, 2003
A crude bomb exploded in this main city of Gujarat on Thursday, sparking fears of fresh communal violence as authorities braced for an annual "Rath Yatra", or chariot procession, beginning July 1.
- Where does the Muslim go?
The community gains by keeping the Kanchi seer’s proposals confidential
Saeed Naqvi, The Indian Express, June 27, 2003
In my experience Muslims are increasingly of the view that time has come for a new deal in which issues of the three temples and cow slaughter should be handled in such a way as to pave the way for a grand rapprochement which would smash the “Mian Musharraf” brigade and the politics it feeds on.
- VHP mounts pressure on BJP for legislation, Naidu rejects
Press Trust of India, New Delhi, June 26, 2003
The VHP on Thursday sought to mount pressure on BJP for bringing a legislation for construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya but the party rejected the demand saying it did not intend to force the hands of its allies.
- VHP preparing for `final battle': Togadia
The Hindu, June 26, 2003
Raipur June 25. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad today said it would finalise the blueprint for a mass movement for `Hindu supremacy' and construction of a Ram temple at Ayodhya at its national executive meeting beginning here on June 27.
- Kashi, Mathura not on agenda: BJP
Business Standard, Political Bureau in Delhi/Gwalior, June 26, 2003
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) disowned the “liberation” of Kashi and Mathura as demanded by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and said this issue had not been on its agenda so there was no question of sticking to it.
- BJP heading for political disaster: VHP
Times News Network, June 24, 2003
RAIPUR: Reiterating his remarks on the need for Prime Minister Vajpayee to step aside, Vishva Hindu Parishad leader Ashok Singhal said the Bharatiya Janata Party is heading for a political disaster if it continued with the ‘‘politics of appeasement.’’
- Conversion laws invade privacy, says Sorabjee
Business Standard, Political Bureau in New Delhi, June 24, 2003
In the first public disagreement with state governments that have passed laws against religious conversion, Attorney-General Soli Sora-bjee said he did not approve of some provisions of the laws passed by Gujarat and Tamil Nadu because they invaded individual privacy.
- Togadia plans new Hindutva party
By Special Correspondent, The Hindu, June 24, 2003
HYDERABAD June 23. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) general secretary, Praveen Togadia, today suggested the formation of a new Hindutva party wedded to the goal of establishing a Hindu Rashtra and constructing a Ram temple at Ayodhya. Hindu society, he felt, had become a "political orphan" with neither the BJP nor the Congress taking up the Hindutva agenda.
- Ayodhya amnesia
If it wasn’t so tragic, it may actually have made a great whodunit
Editorial, The Indian Express, June 23, 2003
Of course, the tragedy is that despite all the statements and intentions, pronouncements and denouncements, threats and promises, we haven’t come even a centimetre closer to solving what is arguably independent India’s most intractable problem. And our chronic amnesia doesn’t help. We seem to have already forgotten what the prime minister observed just a couple of weeks ago that Ayodhya, to be solved, must be freed from politics.
- Togadia opposes any `compromise formula'
By Staff Reporter, The Hindu, June 23, 2003
HYDERABAD June 22. The general-secretary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Praveen Togadia, today virtually closed the door on any compromise formula to resolve the Ayodhya issue by reiterating that the VHP was determined not to allow construction of a mosque adjacent to the proposed Ram temple.
- Facets of violence
By Kuldip Nayar, The Hindu, June 23, 2003
Violence, the demolition of human rights and values, is taking place all over the country.
- Temple not a tool to win polls: Togadia
Hemendra Singh Bartwal, The Hindustan Times, June 22, 2003
Known as the VHP’s most militant face, Praveen Togadia says his fundamental grouse is that the Vajpayee Government has turned out to be no different from its predecessors on the Ayodhya issue.
- BJP upset over VHP tirade
By Mahesh Vijapurkar, The Hindu, June 21, 2003
MUMBAI JUNE 20. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad's increasingly strident articulation on the Ayodhya temple issue, especially the tirade the BJP is subjected to by the VHP working president, Ashok Singhal, has not found favour with the BJP and it is all set to convey to its Sangh Parivar associate that such outspoken stances would politically damage the party, sources said.
- Defending the indefensible
Khushwant Singh, The Hindustan Times, June 20, 2003
It took ten years for our law-enforcing agencies to frame charges for the heinous crime of destroying a place of worship.
The delay itself should be cause for serious concern to honest citizens of our country. Later, newspapers carried pictures of Uma Bharati embracing Murli Manohar Joshi to share her joy at seeing the Babri masjid reduced to a rubble and interviews with Bal Thackeray who boasted that his Sainiks had played a decisive role in the demolition.
- Gujarat to organise global investor meet
Joydeep Ray in Ahmedabad, Business Standard, June 20, 2003
In a bid to spruce up the state’s image after the riots and attract investments, the Gujarat government would organise a nine-day global investor summit beginning September 25.
- Gujarat orders probe into 'media-influencing' of riot-victims
Press Trust of India, Ahmedabad, June 20, 2003
The Gujarat government has ordered an inquiry into alleged "tutored" deposition of riot victims before the inquiry commission probing the post-Godhra communal violence in the state and the presence of police officials during the proceedings.
- Godhra riots: Probe ordered
The Hindu, June 20, 2003
Ahmedabad June 19. The Gujarat Government has ordered an inquiry into the alleged ``tutored'' deposition of riot victims before the inquiry commission probing the post-Godhra communal violence in the State and the presence of police officials during the proceedings.
- Why Muslims await the seer’s move
Saeed Naqvi, The Indian Express, June 20, 2003
At the time of writing, both the Shankaracharya of Kanchi and the president of the Muslim Personal Law Board (MPLB)—Maulana Rabay Nadwi— are sunk in deep thought. How should the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi issue be handled so that it yields a resolution?
- The story of self-righteous fools
Why Mihir and Zafar are not the friends they can be
Mukul Dube, The Indian Express, June 19, 2003
The point is that each religion which thinks that it alone is right, is considered wrong by many times more people than its adherents. Each religion is thus, in global terms, in a minority. Every individual on this planet is considered wrong, a damn fool, by far more people than those who do not. Simply put, ours is a planet whose every inhabitant is a damn fool in statistical terms, in the view of the majority.
- Nanavati commission to complete work in six months
Press Trust of India, Vadodara, June 18, 2003
The two-member commission, probing the post-Godhra riots in Gujarat, is likely to complete its work in six months after holding its sitting in Ahmedabad.
- Cops to protect Godhra victims
Aasha Khosa, The Indian Express, June 18, 2003
New Delhi, June 17: For the Godhra victims and witnesses who are expected to depose in various cases in courts, the Gujarat police has assured protection. This comes after the intervention of the NHRC.
- Selective hearings
Editorial, The Hindustan Times, June 19, 2003
The growing number of controversies involving the Nanavati Commission, which is inquiring into the Gujarat riots, is an unfortunate development.
- Nanavati panel concludes hearing in Vadodara, next stop, Ahmedabad
Deepikaglobal.com, June 19, 2003
Vadodara, June 18 (UNI) A total of 203 individual as well as group witnesses in the form of NGOs and social organisations have recorded their statements before the Nanavati Commission about the violent incidents as well as the role of police and the district administration in last year's Gujarat riots.
- UGC steps up the heat on historian Panikkar
George Iype in Kochi, Indiabroad, June 18, 2003
The University Grants Commission seems to be in agreement with various Sangh Parivar outfits demanding the ouster of noted historian Dr K N Panikkar as the vice-chancellor of the Sree Shankaracharya University of Sanskrit in Kalady, Kerala.
- The Ayodhya quagmire
Editorial, The Hindustan Times, June 18, 2003
Since there isn’t much likelihood of a judicial verdict being delivered on the Ayodhya dispute in the near future, the Vajpayee government is evidently focusing on an out-of-court settlement.
- Ayodhya can't be solved without VHP role: RSS
Hemendra Singh Bartwal (HTC), The Hindustan Times, June 17, 2003
In what is being seen as a further setback to the Vajpayee Government’s current Ayodhya initiative, the RSS on Tuesday strongly supported the VHP stand that there could be no compromise with Muslims on the Kashi and Mathura disputes to solve the Ayodhya issue.
- Gujarat to organise nine-day global investor summit
Joydeep Ray in Ahmedabad, Business Standard, June 17, 2003
In a bid to spruce up the state’s image after the riots and attract investments, the Gujarat government would organise a nine-day global investor summit beginning September 25.
- NGOs boycott Nanavati panel proceedings
By Manas Dasgupta, The Hindu, June 17, 2003
Incensed by Justice Nanavati's alleged remarks in New Delhi recently that the Commission had so far not come across anything against the Narendra Modi Government or about alleged police failure, several non-government organisations, some individual Muslim leaders and riot-victims boycotted the commission's proceedings.
- Hearing in Gujarat riots case begins
NDTV Correspondent,June 16, 2003 (Vadodara):
Justice G T Nanavati, who is heading the commission probing the communal riots in Gujarat last year, is in Vadodara today and has begun hearing the depositions of riot victims.
- Defamation proceedings for editorial on anti-conversion law
By Staff Reporter, The Hindu, June 17, 2003
CHENNAI JUNE 16. The State Government has initiated yet another defamation proceeding against The Hindu, this time taking exception to an editorial about the controversial anti-conversion ordinance promulgated on October 5, 2002.
- VHP: Govt trying to strike a secret deal with Muslims
By HT Correspondent, New Delhi, June 16, 2003
The Centre's latest initiative on Ayodhya received a setback on Monday as the VHP leadership, furious at being left out of the parleys, sharply attacked the Vajpayee Government on the issue. It accused the Government of defeating the Ram temple movement by "trading" with Muslims to grab power in forthcoming assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
- Trishuls and its new territory __ the Northeast
Newindpress.com, June 15 2003
GUWAHATI: Forget the AK-47 rifles of militant groups. It is now the Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s (VHP’s) trishuls that are emerging as the weapons of contention in the northeast.
- Not funding hate, says IDRF
By Special Correspondent, The Hindu, June 15, 2003
NEW DELHI JUNE 14. The U.S.-based fund-raising organisation, India Development and Relief Fund, on Friday presented a report in defence of itself against charges made in a report published last year that it was closely affiliated to the RSS and raised funds for sectarian causes in India. (Related Other Press Release)
- A rath yatra for girls' education
By Manas Dasgupta, The Hindu, June 15, 2003
GANDHINAGAR JUNE 14. After the "Gujarat Gaurav rath,'' it is the "girls education rath'' for the Chief Minister, Narendra Modi. In a unique programme to encourage education among girl children, Mr. Modi has galvanised the entire administration to move around the State for three days to educate the backward classes on the need for educating their daughters.
- The limits of Sena logic
Editorial, The Hindustan Times, June 13, 2003
The Shiv Sena, never a force to put much importance on anything that needs to be calmly thought out, is in a quandary.
On the one hand, it happens to be one of the premier ambassadors of the Hindutva brand of politics which proclaims anything non-Hindu to be un-Indian and, therefore, worthy of being kicked out of the country. On the other hand, it never seems to grow tired of proclaiming that Mumbai is off-limits for non-Maharashtrians.
- Christians surveyed again in Gujarat
Rathin Das, The Hindustan Times, June 13, 2003
The Gujarat police at it again — conducting discreet surveys of Christian institutions. Police in Kheda district of central Gujarat are said to have visited a few institutions and made enquiries on their source of funds.
- Losing steam
Editorial, The Hindustan Times, June 13, 2003
The Archaeological Survey of India’s failure to find any evidence of an ancient temple beneath the now demolished Babri masjid has added a new complication to the dispute.
It means the BJP and the Sangh parivar have been robbed of one of their justifications for breaking down the mosque. Now they are left only with the argument that it is a matter of faith for the Hindus that the site is the actual Ramjanmabhoomi.
- Law for Ram temple is new Sangh mantra
Parivar rules out other options; Advani favours negotiations
Express News Service, June 11, 2003
New Delhi/ Washington, June 11: Signaling a major shift in strategy and a virtual rejection of the Prime Minister’s ‘‘negotiated settlement or judicial verdict’’ route to solving the Ayodhya dispute, the Sangh Parivar on Wednesday backed the ‘‘third option’’ of a legislation to hand over the disputed site for temple construction.
- In US, Gujarat ghost haunts Advani
Newindpress.com, June 12, 2003
WASHINGTON: The ghost of Gujarat came here to haunt Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani here on Wednesday.
As Advani came to the Indian embassy to address the media, a group of
people holding placards stood near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi across
the road to register their protest against the Gujarat violence.
- `No evidence of structures in some trenches'
The Hindu, June 12, 2003
LUCKNOW JUNE 11. In a significant development in the ongoing excavation on the acquired land at Ayodhya, the Archaeological Survey of India is reported to have said in its progress report that no structural anomalies suggesting the evidence of any structure under the demolished Babri Masjid had been found in 15 of the new trenches dug up at the site.
- The task of repackaging the BJP
By Harish Khare, The Hindu, June 11, 2003
If the BJP believes that it has replaced the Congress as the country's principal political party, then it has to start acquiring ways and habits of thinking like a pan-Indian party, responsible in its behaviour, responsive to new urgings and representative of a continental polity. Sooner or later, the party will have to move beyond the Vajpayee-Advani age.
- Deaf to sound advice
Editorial, The Hindustan Times, June 11, 2003
It didn’t take long for the pious wishes expressed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the Shankaracharya of Kanchi on the Ayodhya issue to be dissipated by the hot winds of reality.
The disclaimers issued by the Muslim bodies about negotiations to solve the problem suggest an unwillingness even to acknowledge any such tentative moves, presumably to avoid the burden of taking a decision. Similarly, the VHP’s rejection of any hint of compromise is entirely in keeping with the organisation’s belligerent attitude.
- No complaints received: NCM chief
By Special Correspondent, The Hindu, June 11, 2003
KOZHIKODE JUNE 10. The Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM), Tarlochan Singh, today expressed the hope that leaders of minority communities would help track down the culprits involved in the Marad massacre.
- 'Coalition' of Indian-Americans denounces Advani visit
Aziz Haniffa in Washington, DC | June 10, 2003
A coalition of Indian-American Christian and Muslim organisations under the banner of 'Coalition to Support Democracy and Pluralism in India' has written to US President George W Bush criticising Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, currently on an official visit to the US, and warning that 'his actions in the past and currently, undermine American interests and values.'
- Britain religious panel's remarks irk Hindus
Vijay Dutt, London, The Hindustan Times, June 10, 2003
A serious controversy has erupted following the release of a report by the House of Lords Select Committee on Religious Offences from Westminster.
The committee was asked to decide whether the present law on religious offences that so far protects only the Anglican Church against blasphemy should be extended to include other faiths or be scrapped.
- Muslim Law Board rejects Kanchi Acharya's claim
By Neena Vyas, The Hindu, June 10, 2003
NEW DELHI JUNE 9. The Muslim Personal Law Board and other Muslim organisations today said that the statements of the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, and the Sankaracharya of Kanchi, Jayendra Saraswati, on the Ayodhya issue were an attempt to "run away from a judicial verdict" on the dispute and even Vishwa Hindu Parishad leaders speaking from Ayodhya rejected the possibility of a negotiated settlement saying that only a law enacted by Parliament (in favour of handing over the disputed land to Hindus for building a Ram temple) could solve the problem.
- The politics of Ayodhya
Editorial, The Hindu, June 10, 2003
ON THE FACE of it, the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee's formulation that a solution to the vexed Ayodhya dispute lies in depoliticising it and letting the contentious issues be settled amicably by the religious leaders of the Hindu and Muslim communities does make eminent sense. But then, the irony is that the one who is rooting for "freeing" Ayodhya from politics is none other than the patriarch and officially acknowledged No. 1 leader of the very party that is primarily responsible for pushing it into the quagmire of partisan politics.
- Ayodhya-2nd LD Campaign: 16 BJP MPs, Katiyar take part in VHP's Ayodhya
campaign
PTI, June 9, 2003
A day after Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee asked political parties to stay away from Ayodhya issue, 16 BJP MPs today attended a function organised here by VHP as part of stepped-up the campaign for temple construction at the disputed site.
- The Wheel's Turning
Dalits who bloodied their hands for Hindutva last year are turning to the Buddha
Darshan Desai, Outlookindia.Com, June 16, 2003
Many of those who responded to the VHP's post-Godhra call last year are doing a serious rethink. They are now realising that it was a grave mistake they made when they attacked innocent Muslims and bloodied their hands in the post-Godhra carnage. From a bloodthirsty mob to flagbearers of peace and moksha, the Dalits of Gujarat seem to be going around in a strange circle—from unreason to reason.
- VHP launches fresh campaign for temple
Press Trust of India, June 9, 2003
Lucknow, June 9: In its second campaign within a year for the construction of Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Monday began a ritual at Kar Sevakpuram to enlist the support of over 5 crore people for the move.
- VHP upset, RSS cautious on Kanchi Seer’s Ayodhya solution
Press Trust of India, June 9, 2003
New Delhi, June 9: VHP on Monday expressed serious reservations over the Kanchi Shankaracharya's suggestions to resolve the Ayodhya imbroglio even as RSS expressed "confidence" that the seer would keep in mind the views of the Sangh Parivar while pursuing his efforts.
- Converse on conversion
Iqbal A Ansari, The Hindustan Times, June 9, 2003
The issues related to freedom of religion and conversion can’t be satisfactorily resolved by recourse to laws nor by rejecting any dialogue. It is not for the lack of any law that the Meenakshipuram conversions in Tamil Nadu took place in 1981, about which independent inquiries established that allurement did not play any role.
- Nothing trivial about violence
Editorial, The Hindu, June 9, 2003
THAT A TRIVIAL dispute over a soiled currency note could take such menacing proportions and end in murder and arson is indicative of the deep communal divide in Hyderabad which has a long history of politics based on religious polarisation. The Old City area in Hyderabad is known to be prone to communal violence, but, despite the early warnings and slow beginnings of the trouble, the police were found wanting in their response to a volatile situation.
- NCM chief's sermons leave minorities cold
Times News Network, June 08, 2003
AHMEDABAD: The National Commission for Minorities (NCM), on its visit to Gujarat under the chairmanship of Tarlochan Singh on Saturday, left the minorities cold with its suggestions to refrain from behaving as ‘political parties’ and to modernise ‘madrassas’.
- Labour MPs move against 'atrocities' on Dalits
By Hasan Suroor, The Hindu, June 8, 2003
LONDON JUNE 7. A week before the Indian Deputy Prime Minister, L. K. Advani, arrives here, 13 prominent British Labour Party MPs have submitted a parliamentary motion condemning the ''continued atrocities against Dalits'' in India, and calling for "re-evaluation'' of aid and development programmes with New Delhi.
- Concerned RSS tells BJP to focus on ideology, not individuals
Press Trust of India, June 7, 2003
Expressing concern over the leadership controversy in the BJP, RSS chief KS Sudarshan has counselled the party to focus more on its ideology and principles and less on individuals even as he appreciated the "good work" being done by party chief M Venkaiah Naidu.
- Minorities Commission to probe Christian complaints
NDTV Correspondent, June 7, 2003
A team of National Commission for Minorities (NCM) will visit Ahmedabad today to get a first hand view of the situation in Gujarat in the wake of complaints by the minority community.
- Anti-conversion: RSS slams Pope
Express News Service, June 6, 2003
New Delhi, June 6: Attacking the Pope for his alleged remarks against anti-conversion laws in India, the RSS today said the utterances were ‘‘tantamount to a direct challenge to India and its pluralist tradition’’ and urged the government ‘‘to register their protest to the head of Vatican for his intemperate remarks on Indian laws’’.
- Fears for India's secularism
Charles Haviland, BBC correspondent in Madras, June 6, 2003
Recent laws outlawing forced religious conversions in two Indian states are creating growing controversy.
The Pope has recently condemned the laws in the southern state of Tamil Nadu and Gujarat in the west of the country.
- VHP to counter missionary activities in South Gujarat
Anil Pathak, Times News Network, June 06, 2003
AHMEDABAD: After massive electoral victory in tribal dominated areas of central Gujarat, the Sangh Parivar has now decided to make a fresh bid to expand its influence to the tribal areas of South Gujarat.
- Not cow’s urine any more
Business Standard, June 6, 2003
The Jaitley-Singh letters, believe it or not, are about development, about whether Madhya Pradesh has spent enough effort to educate its children, whether they’re being vaccinated on time, and how BJP-run states like Himachal Pradesh have done a better job!
In other words, the debate as it is being conducted is somewhat flawed, but what’s important is that it’s happening at all. Economics in place of cow dung: India’s politics is moving in to the 21st century, however haltingly.
- 'We will not lower our guard against communalism'
The Rediff Interview/Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, June 05, 2003
The only chief minister to draw praise from Sonia at last week's Congress chief ministers conclave in Srinagar, he was lauded for his fight against the Vishwa Hindu Parishad-Bajrang Dal's trishul diksha.
- Bhojshala bluster
Calling all politicians in Madhya Pradesh. Can we go back to development, please?
Editorial, The Indian Express, June 5, 2003
Just when poll trackers were getting convinced that the BJP had given up trying to do a Gujarat in MP, just when it seemed that Digvijay Singh’s own ardour for Hindutva had waned, and that elections in this state would be fought on governance and governance alone, the irresistible combine of state BJP chief Uma Bharati and Union Minister of State for Tourism and Culture Bhavana Chikalia has stoked the dying Bhojshala controversy. And just when we were beginning to enjoy the Arun Jaitley-Digvijay Singh spat.
- Hindutva won’t be poll plank in MP, says BJP
Agencies, June 05, 2003
DHAR: Just five months ahead of the assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, the BJP has said Hindutva will not be its poll plank and accused its main political rival, the Congress, of “cloning” it on the controversial issue.
- Violence had no effect on Gujarat's economic growth: Modi
Rediff.com, June 04, 2003
More than a year after communal violence hit Gujarat, Chief Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday that the incidents had had no effect on economic growth of the state.
- Hindu martial arts camps for girls alarm Muslims
Females now receive training, long offered to boys, in fighting, culture
By Prajnan Bhattacharya, Associated Press, June 4, 2003
KANPUR, INDIA--At her summer camp, 10-year-old Stuti Gupta is learning to use guns, leap through rings of fire and fight with knives and wooden truncheons -- skills India's most powerful Hindu nationalist group tells her she needs to protect her faith.
- No Masjid at Ayodhya: Togadia
Sify.com, 04 June , 2003
New Delhi: After Giriraj Kishore, it was the turn of VHP International General Secretary Praveen Togadia to assert that his organisation would not allow any mosque to be built at Ram Janabhoomi in Ayodhya.
- UP Muslims decide to distribute Trishuls
By Vinay Krishna Rastogi in Lucknow, Sify.com, 02 June , 2003
Some Muslim organisations in Uttar Pradesh have decided to distribute Trishuls to counter the VHP.
The VHP had recently begun a drive to distribute over 100,000 trishuls (tridents) to Hindus to "prepare them for arms training to counter terrorism, anti-insurgency and opposition to Sri Ram temple movement".
- Another survey? Gujarat government denies survey of Christians
The Statesman, June 2, 2003
The Gujarat government is in the news for the same old thing — harassment of minorities. Narendra Modi seems to have a single point program — minority-bashing, and all government policies are geared to that end. Christians in Patan district have again started receiving midnight knocks on the door. Police officers come calling to ask Christian missionaries about their religion, background, funding etc.
- ``BJP's mosque offer, a bid to terrorise Muslims''
By Staff Correspondent, The Hindu, June 2, 2003
JAIPUR JUNE 1. The Jamat-e-Islami Hind today termed the recent offer of the BJP to Muslims allowing construction of a mosque adjacent to the proposed Ram temple in Ayodhya and its subsequent retraction as yet another instance of the "aggressive designs" of the Sangh Parivar aimed at terrorising Muslims.
- Christian lobby warned against illegal conversions
The Hindu, June 2, 2003
Vadodara June 1. The VHP leader, Acharya Giriraj Kishore, has warned the Christian lobby not to indulge in illegal conversions aimed at dividing the Hindu society.
- VHP activists disrupt show
The Hindu, June 2, 2003
VADODARA JUNE 1. Three persons were injured when activists of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad disrupted an entertainment programme here last night causing a stampede.
- Magsaysay awardee to counter VHP `trishul diksha' programme
The Hindu, June 2, 2003
Lucknow June 1. The Magsaysay award winner, Sandeep Pandey, would distribute the "Bhagwad Gita" to the people on June 6 at Sultanpur where the VHP plans to hold "trishul diksha" programme on the same day.
- Ignore the VHP
Editorial, The Hindustan Times, June 2, 2003
One thing you have to admit about the VHP is that it means what it says. Unlike its overtly political sibling in power at the Centre, the VHP has never couched its aspirations in realpolitik doublespeak. Consider BJP president Venkaiah Naidu doing a verbal foxtrot on the Ram mandir issue.
- VHP to launch nationwide movement for Ram temple next month
Press Trust of India, The Hindustan Times, June 2, 2003
Ayodhya, June 1 - VHP leader Ashok Singhal on Sunday said the organisation would launch a "massive" nationwide movement next month to press for construction of a Ram temple here.
- Reaping their quota of votes?
Sunny Sebastian, The Hindu, June 1, 2003
But with only six months left for the Assembly elections in the State and with both the main political parties, the ruling Congress and the Opposition BJP, vying with each other to garner the support of every caste group, fixing a quota for the forward castes does not seem a preposterous idea any more.
More - Archive (May, 2003)
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