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1 March 2002
Press Release
Statement
By His Holiness Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Shri Aadhog Shajananda
Teerthji Maharaj
Shri Govardhan Math, Jagannath Dham, Puri, Orissa
Gujarat events state terrorism, ban VHP: Shankaracharya
Whatever happened in Godhara (Gujarat) on Wednesday is highly
condemnable and barbaric. Subsequent mob attacks all over Gujarat (during
bandh call of VHP) on minorities, 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.
Government of Gujarat should have captured the culprits of Wednesday act
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.
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 loosing power in various
states? BJP would never be forgiven by the majority community for
allowing VHP to misuse religion in the name of 'Maryado Purushattam Shri
Ram' purely for political purposes.
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 such good political leader whose advice would
be listened then. 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, and all their so-called leaders and activists should
be arrested forthwith under National Security Act.
International community would suspect the intentions of Government of
India and its resolve to fight against terrorism if BJP continues
supporting covertly the riot mongering VHP.
Issued on behalf of His Holiness
Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Shri Aadhog Shajananda Teerthji
Maharaj
Sd.
Pandit NK Sharma
President, Universal Association for Spiritual Awareness
A-136 Meera Bagh, New Delhi 110087
Tel. (011) 526 7595, 525 3449; fax: (011) 528 2846
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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