India: Two article on Vishwa Hindu Parishad's first Virat Hindu Sammelan in Bombay (dec 2014)

1.)

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/mumbai/others/PM-exploring-solution-for-Ayodhya-issue-Sankaracharya/articleshow/45518058.cms

PM exploring solution for Ayodhya issue: Sankaracharya
By Jyoti Punwani, Mumbai Mirror | Dec 15, 2014, 08.39 AM IST

Does PM Narendra Modi have a plan for the construction of a Ram mandir in Ayodhya? If the Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham is to be believed, the PM is in touch with Muslims to build the temple on the disputed site and also a mosque one kilometre away.

Addressing the Vishwa Hindu Parishad's first Virat Hindu Sammelan in Mumbai, the swami said it was good to take Muslims along on this issue keeping in mind that all parties concerned have their prestige at stake. "Modi is a good man and enjoys the people's trust. All Hindus should unite and support him on this," said the swami, and the response from the audience was lukewarm.

In contrast, they responded enthusiastically to the inflammatory speech by the diminutive young Sadhvi Saraswati from Madhya Pradesh. Asking Hindus to wage war, she said that December 6, which the VHP has declared to be 'shaurya diwas', (Bravery Day - the day on which the VHP demolished the Babri Masjid), should be observed by cutting off the heads of traitors.

Describing the Owaisi brothers from Hyderabad and the Imam Bukhari as "Geedar (vulture) ki aulad" and barking dogs, she questioned their loyalty to the country. The recurring themes of the sammelan, held at the sprawling MMRDA ground at BKC, were cow protection, love jihad, the Ram mandir, religious conversion and the fall in the global Hindu population. Speaker after speaker asserted that the entire world - Africa, Arabia, Australia, Russia - was Hindu. But now just 100 crore Hindus were left across the world and the VHP was their armour.

The claim that the entire world was Hindu and it is just that they have forgotten this was made repeatedly. Russia was specifically referred to. Russia was originally Rishangaha, the abode of rishis, said one speaker. It was thus a Hindu Rashtra. It is the duty of Hindus now to make Russians Hindus, said one speaker. Exhorting the audience to give up Lux and Liril and switch to 'go mutra' shampoo and soap, Pravin Togadia said the sale of products made from cows urine would enable farmers to become so rich that they wouldn't have to sell their cows once they stopped giving milk. Outside the venue were shops selling these products, marked as 'gou brand.'

Among the demands made by the speakers, who included Jain munis and Buddhist monks, was banning pornography to prevent rape, and the enactment of a law that no marriage could take place without parental permission. This would solve the problem of 'love jihad', they said. The need for Hindus to unite and give up caste differences was emphasised by every speaker.

A large section of those who had come were followers of Swami Narendra Acharya of Ratnagiri. Accordingly, he was the last speaker. A surprise entrant on stage was Laxmi, the transgender rights activist, who tied a rakhi on Pravin Togadia's wrist.

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2.)

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-vhp-leaders-want-whole-world-converted-to-hinduism-2043938

Vishwa Hindu Parishad leaders want whole world converted to Hinduism

Monday, 15 December 2014 - 7:30am IST | Agency: dna

Dhaval Kulkarni

Stressing India's identity as a Hindu rashtra, calling for a law against conversions, construction of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya, culling "gaddars" (traitors), scoffing at Mahatma Gandhi's leadership of the freedom movement, fears of Hindus being under threat, preventing cow slaughter and ensuring that the entire world was converted to Hinduism — these were some themes that found prominence in the Vishwa Hindu Parishad's (VHP) 'Virat Hindu' sammelan in Mumbai on Sunday as Hindutva demagogues and religious leaders addressed the faithful.

RSS sahkaryavah (joint general secretary) Dattatreya Hosabale, VHP international working president Dr Pravin Togadia and senior leader Ashok Singhal, Kanchi mutt pontiff Jayendra Saraswathi, Narendra Maharaj of Nanij and Buddhist and Jain religious leaders were present.

"If conversions are wrong, then why is no law against conversions passed in Parliament? We will not allow the conversion of Hindus," said Togadia, with posters of the proposed Ram Temple and Lord Krishna driving Arjuna's chariot in the background. Lashing out at subsidies for Haj pilgrims, he called on Hindus to follow religious practices, befriend at least one Dalit or adivasi family, help poor Hindus, unite against conversions and cow slaughter, not follow untouchability and use soaps and shampoos made from cow urine and dung. "Bharat Hindu Rashtra hai, yahi hamara nara hai," said Togadia, while the crowd repeated the slogan after him.

Togadia claimed that earlier, even Arabia, Africa, Europe were Hindu areas, and the number of Hindus which once stood at 700 crore had shrunk to just 100 crore now. "Hindus numbered 30% in Bangladesh, but are just 8% now. In Pakistan, Hindus were 10% but are just 1%," he said, pointing to how the Kashmir valley had been cleansed of Hindus.

Togadia warned that while 82% of India comprised of Hindus, if they were not alert, their numbers would shrink to half after decades and said that "200 crore hands of Hindus" should rise up to protect their co-religionists. "The Ram Mandir will be constructed, even if anyone wants it or not," said Togadia, while calling for stopping cow slaughter and conversions.

Narendra Maharaj claimed that Hindus were under threat in India with laws like that against superstitions targeted against them.

Pointing out that December 6, when Hindutva storm troopers had felled the Babri masjid at Ayodhya, was celebrated as "Shaurya Diwas," firebrand Sadhvi Saraswati said the proper way to celebrate this was not by unfurling flags but through each Hindu cutting the head of at least one "gaddar" (traitor).

Lashing out at the hardline Owaisi brothers who head the AIMIM, Saraswati spoke on the alleged 'Love Jihad' campaign to "misguide" the "girls of Bharat" to reduce the numbers of Hindus and increase those of Muslims.

"History is witness to the fact that where the number of Hindus goes down, that part of the country is separated from it," she warned, while scoffing at claims that the Mahatma had ensured freedom from the British.

Kamal Lochan Das of ISKCON said the deep meaning of the name of the VHP was that they wanted to ensure that the entire world became Hindu. He claimed that the name of Russia was derived from the penance of 'Rishis' there. "Isnt Russia a Hindu Rashtra?" questioned the religious leader, while calling for Hindus to work till the entire world became a "Hindu Rashtra."

The Kanchi pontiff lauded prime minister Narendra Modi as a "good man" and called for the construction of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya. Warkari sect leader Bhaskargiri Maharaj said earlier, the sentiments of Hindus had been trampled upon.

Jain muni Vinamsagarji Maharaj warned of the consequences of taking on Hindus and called for those who had been converted to other faiths to be reverted back to Hinduism.