The Bharatiya Janatha Party (BJP) and Hindu outfits have lodged complaints against Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Thol. Thirumavalavan in Chennai and elsewhere for having allegedly stated that all Hindu temples should be demolished and Buddhist vihars and shrines built in their place.
Speaking at a public meeting on the Babri Masjid demolition anniversary, Mr. Thirumavalavan had said: “Lord Rama is a figment of imagination. There is no truth that he ever lived. The demand to build a temple for him on the place where Babri Masjid was pulled down is ridiculous and uncalled for.”
Separately he said on a television debate, “The famous Hindu temples in Srirangam and Kancheepuram were built on Buddhist shrines after demolishing them and hence these Hindu temples should be demolished.” He said his speech was edited by television channels.
He said most Hindu temples were built after demolishing Buddha vihars and Jain temples.
“Then I said for argument sake, Buddha vihars should be built in place of those temples.” He said the words “argument sake” were deleted.
Stating that he was only underlining an accepted historical fact that many Buddhist and Samanar temples were destroyed, he said: “I was only posing a counter to Sangh Parivar’s logic justifying the demolition of Babri Masjid. I didn’t say that the Hindu temples must be demolished. Politicians like H. Raja have threatened to file cases against me. They are welcome. Through this, I wish there is a conversation about history,” he said. The VCK leader added that he was not going back on his statement.
