VHP to launch nation-wide stir against communal violence bill

The VHP will launch a nationwide agitation later this month in protest against the proposed communal violence bill, calling the legislation "draconian". Vehemently opposing the proposed bill drafted by Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council, VHP general secretary Praveen Togadia said, "It enables non-Hindus to commit crimes with impunity while rendering Hindus incapable of defending themselves in the event of attacks from members of a minority community."Declaring that the VHP will oppose the bill tooth and nail, he said it will start a nation-wide agitation from July 15 in protest against it.Togadia was speaking to reporters at Jhusi on the outskirts of the city after the conclusion of a two-day meeting of the VHP's "Kendriya Prabandhak Samiti"."There are two internationally accepted principles of justice - the law of the land shall be applicable to all and a person shall be considered innocent unless proven guilty.The proposed bill goes against these principles and aims at paving the way for a draconian law which tilts the scales against Hindus", he said. The fire-brand VHP leader claimed that the proposed bill would "make it impossible for the police and the army to act against stone-pelting mobs in Kashmir.