Criticising the Samajwadi Party government’s opposition to the “ ghar vapsi ” programmes planned in western Uttar Pradesh, senior Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Pravin Togadia on Sunday dared the party to lend its support to an anti-conversion law if it really thought conversion was “wrong.”
Mr. Togadia also reiterated the VHP demand for a Ram Temple at Ayodhya, contending that the temple would be “constructed irrespective of anyone’s like or dislike.”
“If conversion is wrong, then, [SP chief] Mulayam Singh, why don’t you come up in Parliament and support a law against conversion... We won’t allow Hindus to be converted. We will protect them,” he said.
Addressing a massive Viraat Hindu Sammelan to commemorate 50 years of the VHP’s existence, Mr. Togadia claimed the ancestors of all Muslims and Christians living in India were Hindus.
“Until Ram mandir is constructed, Hindus will have no honour in India. Ram Mandir will come up whether someone likes it or not,” said Mr. Togadia from a stage adorned by a massive banner of Lord Ram and the proposed Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir.
Several speakers at the event spoke against conversion while propagating the need for Ghar Vapasi to “save” Hindu culture.
There were also sharp references to “love jihad” and “ nari sammaan [honour of women]” with warnings to Hindu families to protect their “daughters” from the lure of Muslim boys or face an existential threat. “If we aren’t cautious, soon Hindus will be outnumbered in India,” Mr. Togadia said.
“You take one Hindu girl with love jihad. But remember she is not the daughter of one Hindu. She is the daughter of 100 crore Hindus. The VHP will protect Hindu daughters,” he said.
RSS joint secretary Dattatreya Hosbale and VHP leader Ashok Singhal were among those present.
