Monday, February 7 2005 10:41 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: Speakers at the "Hindu Samudaya Paadhugappu Maanadu" (Hindu Society Protection Meeting) in Chennai last night (Feb 06, 2005) exhorted the need for Hindus to remain united to thwart the designs of 'anti-Hindu' forces, which have allegedly attacked Hinduism by arresting both the Kanchi Seers.

Speaking on the occasion, BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) leader and former Union Human Resources Development Minister Dr Murli Manohar Joshi said that Kanchi Seer Jayendra Saraswathi, by his work among the masses, particularly Dalits, had made "Hindu society a single unit".

He said that it would not have been possible for the Andhra Pradesh Government to grant permission to the Tamil Nadu police to arrest the Seer, 'without the knowledge of someone at the Centre."

"One should also not forget that if they attack one religious center, they will be emboldened to do this at centers of all religions and not only Hinduism. If you don't respond, then they will be emboldened," he said.

Though some people were claiming that the law was equal to all, in Bihar "some criminal elements are allowed to hold darbars in jail. The law does not seem to operate for criminals, but only for Hindu saints and sadhus".

The BJP leader pointed out that even when he was arrested in the Babri Masjid demolition case, he was treated with respect and dignity and kept in a guesthouse. "But you know what happened to the Seers".

"We must remain united as one family. Those who have faith in Hindu philosophy and tradition must remain ever vigilant," he added.

Referring to one of the investigating officers probing the Sankararaman murder case, Joshi said that the man had been recommended for promotion, though prosecution had been ordered against him. "It is murder of law. I think we should demand that the investigating officer be replaced and be prosecuted."

Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Acharya Giriraj Kishore, said that the arrests of the Seers only indicated that "psychological attempts are being brought in to disrespect Hindu saints".

Alleging that the Anti Hindu forces had a list of 40 saints and sadhus who they wanted to be jailed on one pretext or another, he stressed the need for Hindu unity.

Pejawar Mutt head Swami Visveswara Theertha said that the arrest of the Seers was a "big blot" in the history of Independent India. Hindu society should be united in opposing such attacks.

Janata Party President Dr Subramanian Swamy, BJP national secretary L Ganesan, BJP MLA H Raja and VHP International Vice-president S Vedantam also spoke.