New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on February 24 condemned the VHP (Vishwa
Hindu Parishad) threats at its Dharam Sansad to create "hundred Gujarat's" on the
Ayodhya issue and made a veiled attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led
coalition for moving the Supreme Court to get the stay vacated on religious
activities on the acquired land.
"BJP-ruled states are indulging in most pernicious communal propaganda. BJP and VHP
are making outrageous statements and a threat was hurled from the Dharm Sansad that
there will be hundred Gujarat's," she said participating in a discussion in Lok Sabha
on the motion of thanks on the President's address.
Accusing BJP and Sangh Parivar of destroying the secular fabric of the country and
polarising society, Gandhi said the Supreme Court judgement of 1994 on the Ayodhya
issue is being misinterpreted by these "vested interests".
She said the VHP has been attempting to destroy the sacredness of the holy town of
Ayodhya.
Demanding an early meeting of the National Integration Council, she said its meeting
has not been held for quite a long time.
The hour-long speech of Gandhi, who is also the leader of the Opposition, saw a
blistering attack on the NDA Government for "alarming deterioration" in internal and
national security scenario.
Asserting that Pakistan's cross-border terrorism must be combated vigorously, she,
however, said jingoism and war hysteria are not the real answers. "Confrontation with
Pakistan must not be used to polarise society and damage communal harmony," she said.
PTI
