VHP wants to persuade Muslims to give up claim on Ayodhya land

With a resurgent BJP under Narendra Modi coming to power at the Centre, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) is pushing for a law to construct a Ram Temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya and is seeking that the Muslim community be "persuaded" to withdraw their claim on the land. Speaking to dna on his visit to Mumbai, VHP international secretary general Champat Rai was however non-committal on legislations to protect cows and ban religious conversions — which are among the pet issues of the Sangh Parivar. The VHP, which was founded in 1964, is completing 50 years.

Q What does VHP want the Muslim community to do in order to construct a the Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya?
Rai said recent cases of communal conflagrations in Uttar Pradesh, where the BJP-led front swept 73 of 80 Lok Sabha seats, were "politically motivated" to polarise the minority vote and sought that Muslim intellectuals come forth to educate their community about not being used as vote banks. Rai demanded that the Centre approve a law to ensure that a Ram Temple – reportedly demolished by Mughal emperor Babar's general Mir Baqi to construct the mosque in 1528 – was constructed at the disputed site in Ayodhya but sought that first, the Muslim community be "persuaded" to relinquish their claim on it. "Persuasion (must come) first, then a law. Persuasion is much more important. They must voluntarily withdraw their case from the Supreme Court," he said.

Q What was the Allahabad high court verdict regarding the plot of land?
"This verdict is sufficient for the government to make a law," said Rai, while referring to the Allahabad high court verdict on the case regarding the land title which ruled that the land on which the Babri Masjid stood before it was demolished on December 6, 1992, be divided in three parts with one part each going to Ram Lalla (infant Ram), Nirmohi Akhada and Sunni Waqf Board. The verdict was later stayed by the Supreme Court which admitted appeals from both Hindu and Muslim organisations. Rai claimed some Muslim leaders had promised the then PV Narasimha Rao government that they would voluntarily hand over the land to Hindus if it was proved that the mosque was built over a temple. "So, the government can now pursue on the same lines. It is a very easy question for the present government," he said.

Q What is VHP's stand on the issue of protection of cows?
"The cow has a place of pride for us," said Rai, adding that while the protection of the cow was included in the constitution, this was part of the state list. "Meat export is the policy of the Centre and cow protection is the duty of the state. These two are contradictory," he said, demanding that it be included in the concurrent list. "For Bharat, the cow is not an economic animal... (but a) sentimental (one)," said Rai, pointing to its place in agriculture, health, mythology and culture. He was however non- committal on questions about whether the VHP wanted a law to ensure cow protection.

Q The Parishad considers several factors as the cause for religious conversions in the country.
"It may be high time, but now there are so many problems which are important," said Rai, adding that the poor economic conditions, slack job market, poor internal security and infiltration from countries like Bangladesh were among the issues which needed the government's attention. He also lauded the Modi-led government's performance, stating that things were "going in the right direction."
"There are worries about the declining population of Hindus in Bharat," said Rai, adding that all Muslims and Christians in India had been converted to these faiths. "The conversion from Hinduism to foreign religions was under pressure or under some compulsion. It was never thoughtful... the conversion is not based on ideology and so all converted people may be brought back to their (Hindu) roots," he said, adding that this could be done by "again creating pride in their minds about their forefathers" and through "legal and social means."
Rai was however non-committal on demands for a law to ban religious conversions. "For a social organisation, social efforts are important (than any piece of legislation)," he said, pointing to the VHP's "success" in stopping conversions in states like Gujarat, Orrisa and Rajasthan.
"It was created by the Congress government," charged Rai, while responding to Sangh activists being accused of terror activists. On questions regarding if they wanted these cases withdrawn, Rai said "the law should take its own path" as "final disposal in courts is the only way out."