Seer arrest to appease certain communities: VHP Friday, December 3 2004 10:09 Hrs (IST) - World Time
New Delhi:
The VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) yesterday (Dec 2, 2004) alleged that the Kanchi Shankaracharya's arrest was carried out "to appease certain communities" and demanded that the cases against him be transferred out of Tamil Nadu.
"The way charges are being slapped against Shankaracharya one-by-one, it is evident that there is prejudice against him. It is targeted at appeasing certain communities," senior vice-president of VHP Giriraj Kishore told reporters in New Delhi.
He demanded the cases to be transferred out of Tamil Nadu and said, "If it can happen in the Best Bakery case, then why not in the Shankaracharya case."
Lambasting the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government on its decision to give statutory powers to the National Commission of Minorities, he said it would endanger the privacy of official information.
He criticised the Centre for raising job quota for Muslims in the paramilitary forces, saying recruitment in a democratic country cannot be done on the basis of religion.
On the issue of de-induction of troops in J and K, he said terrorism has not yet been wiped off the State completely.
With this kind of "appeasing policy", the UPA was trying to strengthen its Muslim vote bank, but it would not be able to complete its term, Kishore said, and added that the country was heading towards mid-term polls.
He, however parried a question on whether VHP will support BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) in the event of early polls saying, "Jo Hindu hit ka kaj karega, wo desh par raj karega (One who will work for the interests of Hindu community will come to power).
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