Nirmalanadanatha Swami of Adichunchanagiri Mutt speaking at the Virat Hindu Samajotsava held in Hassan on Tuesday.— Photo: Prakash Hassan
Besides Togadia, other prominent invitees skipped programme
The Virat Hindu Samajotsava, held in Hassan on Tuesday, was limited to making allegations of Love Jihad, criticising the State government for banning Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Praveen Togadia’s entry and defending Ghar Vapsi. Mr. Togadia was to be the main speaker of the event but the Hassan district administration prohibited his entry into the city.
Besides Togadia, other prominent invitees including Veerendra Heggade of Dharmsthala, Vishwesha Teertha Swami of Pejawar Mutt and Shivaratri Deshikendra Swami of Suttur Mutt also skipped the programme. People’s participation was also not according to the organisers’ expectations. Office-bearers of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, organiser of the event, had claimed that more than 40,000 people would take part. However, there were hardly 4,000-5,000 people.
Gopal, Kshetriya Sanghatana Sanchalaka of VHP, in his address alleged that there was a conspiracy going on in the name of ‘love jihad’. Muslim youths would seduce Hindu girls and convert them into Islam. “If love jihad is not stopped, youths aligned to Bajrang Dal would counter it by seducing Muslim girls,” he said. He demanded that a uniform civil code be implemented.
Defending Ghar Vapsi, he said those failed to bring in an effective anti-conversion law in the country had no moral right to criticise Ghar Vapsi. “People who converted to Islam and Christianity long ago wanted to return to the Hindu fold. We are inviting them back. There is nothing wrong in that. It will continue,” he said.
Nirmalanandannatha Swami of Adichunchangiri Mutt opined that Hindu religion was not based on blind beliefs. It had given many scholars who had been remembered for their exemplary contributions to the fields of science and mathematics. “The younger generation has to understand the value of Hindu religion so that they can counter ideological attacks on the religion,” he said.
Police deployed
The Hassan district administration had deployed police all over the city to avoid untoward incidents during the event. Public had to bear the inconvenience caused due to the programme. Traffic was diverted on R.C. Road and roads connecting Subhash Square and AVK College Road during the procession. The weekly market at College Road was also cancelled. Farmers who had brought vegetables for the market had to carry them back.