Modi govt committed to Ram Temple, Article 370, uniform civil code, wait for two-thirds majority: Amit Shah

By Our Representative
The cat is finally out of the bag. Much to the chagrin of the Government of India's "liberal" supporters around the world who swear by its developmental agenda, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's right-hand man, BJP chief Amit Shah, has made it clear that the ruling party has not left its "core agenda" -- including building Ram Temple at Ayodhya through a law in Parliament, and abrogation of Article 370, which would put an end to the special status to Jammu & Kashmir, and having a uniform civil code.
With Sangh Parivar affiliates, especially Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), pitching for "legalizing" the construction of Ram Temple at Ayodhya at the site where the Babri Masjid stands, Shah has reportedly said that ruling party would address “core issues” of building a Ram temple at Ayodhya, repealing Article 370 and introducing a uniform civil code in the country is very much part of the agenda.
However, there is a snag imposed upon the party by the current democratic setup. These, he said, cannot be addressed till the party has two-thirds majority in Parliament. “We don't have enough mandate to address core issues. We need 370 seats, according to the Constitution, to address these,” Shah said, talking with newspersons at the BJP headquarters.
The remarks come close on the heels of the VHP passing a resolution at Haridwar, asking the Government of India to "enact" a legislation to clear the way for construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya. Significantly, earlier this month, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, speaking in Ayodhya, said that his government would not be able to address the "core issues" such as enacting a legislation, since the NDA was in minority in the Rajya Sabha.
Refusing to sound negative on Shah’s statement, VHP joint general secretary Surendrakumar Jain said the BJP chief did not refer to the issues of Ram Temple, abrogating Article 370 as “contentious” issues but had referred to them “core issues.” Only, he believed, the BJP had been given mandate not just for development. but also to deliver on the "core issues", and it much "construct temple for its political survival.”
The VHP resolution passed at Haridwar, focusing on the "core issues", said a decision had been taken to press on them "to sort out issues blocking the temple construction". It expressed “sadness that the country could not rebuild even three of the 30,000 Hindu temples destroyed by Islamic invaders”.

VHP leaders at Haridwar

The release added that they would not let a mosque or any Islamic cultural centre or monument to be built within the “cultural boundaries of Ayodhya” which involve as many as six districts of Uttar Pradesh. "Nor should any structure in the name of Mughal emperor Babur be erected anywhere in India", the VHP said.
"Ayodhya's cultural boundary is the place of Sri Ram's 'Krida, Leela and Sanskar'. Every year, thousands of devotees visit these places which have hundreds of pilgrimage sites. No Islamic prayer place or cultural structure will be built in this area. And nothing in the name of Babur will be erected anywhere in India," the resolution said.
The resolution claimed, "The court has accepted that the temple there was demolished by Babur in 1528. The government had given an affidavit that if the same was proved, it would hand over the entire land for temple construction. The government will have to keep its word."

Around 100 saints affiliated with the VHP attended the meet, VHP said. Many saints called Modi "Hinduwadi" and "our PM".
Among other demands, the VHP said, water rafting in the Ganga, one of Uttarakhand's most popular sporting activities, should be "banned" as it gives rise to obscene activities on riverbanks. Young people of both sexes come to these rafting camps, mingle, drink and indulge in objectionable activities on the banks of the holy river, where sadhus and sants gather to meditate, it alleged.

Comments

Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan raises concerns over Jharkhand Adivasis' plight in Assam, BJP policies

By Our Representative The Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan (Save Democracy Campaign) has issued a pressing call to protect Adivasi rights in Jharkhand, highlighting serious concerns over the treatment of Jharkhandi Adivasis in Assam. During a press conference in Ranchi on November 9, representatives from Assam, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh criticized the current approach of BJP-led governments in these states, arguing it has exacerbated Adivasi struggles for rights, land, and cultural preservation.

Promoting love or instilling hate and fear: Why is RSS seeking a meeting with Rahul Gandhi?

By Ram Puniyani* India's anti-colonial struggle was marked by a diverse range of social movements, one of the most significant being Hindu-Muslim unity and the emergence of a unified Indian identity among people of all religions. The nationalist, anti-colonial movement championed this unity, best embodied by Mahatma Gandhi, who ultimately gave his life for this cause. Gandhi once wrote, “The union that we want is not a patched-up thing but a union of hearts... Swaraj (self-rule) for India must be an impossible dream without an indissoluble union between the Hindus and Muslims of India. It must not be a mere truce... It must be a partnership between equals, each respecting the religion of the other.”

Right-arm fast bowler who helped West Indies shape arguably greatest Test team in cricket history

By Harsh Thakor* Malcolm Marshall redefined what it meant to be a right-arm fast bowler, challenging the traditional laws of biomechanics with his unique skill. As we remember his 25th death anniversary on November 4th, we reflect on the legacy he left behind after his untimely death from colon cancer. For a significant part of his career, Marshall was considered one of the fastest and most formidable bowlers in the world, helping to shape the West Indies into arguably the greatest Test team in cricket history.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual.

Andhra team joins Gandhians to protest against 'bulldozer action' in Varanasi

By Rosamma Thomas* November 1 marked the 52nd day of the 100-day relay fast at the satyagraha site of Rajghat in Varanasi, seeking the restoration of the 12 acres of land to the Sarva Seva Sangh, the Gandhian organization that was evicted from the banks of the river. Twelve buildings were demolished as the site was abruptly taken over by the government after “bulldozer” action in August 2023, even as the matter was pending in court.

Will Bangladesh go Egypt way, where military ruler is in power for a decade?

By Vijay Prashad* The day after former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka, I was on the phone with a friend who had spent some time on the streets that day. He told me about the atmosphere in Dhaka, how people with little previous political experience had joined in the large protests alongside the students—who seemed to be leading the agitation. I asked him about the political infrastructure of the students and about their political orientation. He said that the protests seemed well-organized and that the students had escalated their demands from an end to certain quotas for government jobs to an end to the government of Sheikh Hasina. Even hours before she left the country, it did not seem that this would be the outcome.

Will Left victory in Sri Lanka deliver economic sovereignty plan, go beyond 'tired' IMF agenda?

By Atul Chandra, Vijay Prashad* On September 22, 2024, the Sri Lankan election authority announced that Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) alliance won the presidential election. Dissanayake, who has been the leader of the left-wing JVP since 2014, defeated 37 other candidates, including the incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe of the United National Party (UNP) and his closest challenger Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.

Green Revolution’s reliance on chemical fertilizers, pesticides contributing to Punjab's health crisis

By Bharat Dogra, Jagmohan Singh* Punjab was once synonymous with robust health, particularly in its rural areas, where farmers were known for their strength and vitality. However, in recent years, reports from these villages tell a different story, with rising cases of serious health issues, including cancer. What led to this decline? The answer lies largely in the erosion of good nutrition, once a hallmark of Punjabi village life. The health of a population is closely tied to its nutrition, and Punjab's reputation as a provider of high-quality nutrition has suffered greatly. The loss of biodiversity in agriculture has led to a decrease in the variety and quality of crops, resulting in poorer nutrition. Pulses, a key source of protein, have seen a steep decline in cultivation due to the disruption of traditional farming practices by the Green Revolution. This has had a detrimental effect on both soil and human health. Although pulses are still available in the market, they are exp

Tributes paid to pioneer of Naxalism in Punjab, who 'dodged' police for 60 yrs

By Harsh Thakor* Jagjit Singh Sohal, known as Comrade Sharma, a pioneer of Naxalism in Punjab, passed away on October 20 at the age of 96. Committed to the Naxalite cause and a prominent Maoist leader, Sohal, who succeeded Charu Majumdar, played hide and seek with the police for almost six decades. He was cremated in Patiala.

Search This Blog