Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Indian American Youngsters Trace the Footsteps of Swami Vivekananda in America



Indian American Youngsters Trace the Footsteps of Swami Vivekananda in America

New York: June 25: More than a century after Swami Vivekananda traveled to America, youngsters of Indian origin, are hitting the trail and visiting places where the Swami visited, stayed and delivered lectures. The program named ‘Vivekananda Express’ has been facilitated by the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA, to mark the 150th birth anniversary celebrations.
Indian American youngsters trace the footsteps of Swami Vivekananda in America
Indian American youngsters trace the footsteps of Swami Vivekananda in America
Swami Vivekananda, the Hindu monk from India, is widely known to have introduced Yoga to the American masses. His famous speech at the Parliament of World Religions in Chicago in 1893, made him very popular in America and several of prominent Americans including author J D Salinger, philanthropist John D Rockefeller and the legendary inventor Nikola Tesla were greatly influenced by his teachings.
As part of the series of visits planned, over a hundred young professionals of the Silicon Valley and students of nearby Universities and schools visited the First Unitarian Church of Oakland where Swami Vivekananda gave a speech in the year 1900. The speech is known to have brought many residents of Berkeley in contact with his message and later led to the establishment of the Vedanta Society at Berkeley.
“Swami Vivekananda was indeed one of the foremost cultural ambassadors of Hinduism and India to America. Also his message naturally connects with the youth. This is what makes him an icon to the Indian American youngsters” said Sairam Tyagarajan who works at Cisco and is one of the volunteers who organized the event.
In the Church, the participants were shown the wooden chair where Swami Vivekananda sat as he waited for his turn to speak and the podium through which he delivered his speeches. The group later also participated in hiking, team games and group discussions on Swami Vivekananda’s message of Dharma and Yoga.
“Of late, we have been reading quite a bit about Swami Vivekananda, but it is indeed a special feeling to have visited the place where he spoke, he sat and moved about. It was as if I were experiencing the moment when Swamiji stood up to speak” said Sowmya Bhatia, a high school student from Cupertino, who is born and brought up in America.
“It was a combination of fun and inspiration, but more than all it helped me connect with my roots” said Ramya, an engineering graduate student at San Jose State University.
The group plans to visit other places associated with Swami Vivekananda in San Francisco, Oakland and Alameda in the coming days.

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Wakf Board has designs on 15 acres of Defence Department land

Wakf Board has designs on 15 acres of Defence Department land

June 25, 2013 

Jyeshtha Krushnapaksha 2/3, Kaliyug Varsha 5115
O Citizens ! Recognize the ploy of fanatic Muslims with designs on a very important piece of land of Defence Department and oppose such ploy !
Opposition by local residents and CIDCO  
New Mumbai – Hearing is going on for giving 15 acres of land  near Karave village, Hazarat Pir Sayyad Balishah Baba Mazar to Wakf Board which belongs to Defence Department. The date of next hearing is 3rd September. CIDCO and local residents have opposed to giving of the land to Wakf Board and objections to the same have been submitted to the Wakf Board at Aurangabad.(Hindus should realize that Muslims have so far encroached upon their temples and houses; now they are encroaching upon even the land belonging to Defence Department which is very important from the security of the country. Congress Government, which allowed Pakistan to grab part of Kashmir, may give even this land to Muslims. – Editor, Dainik Sanatan Prabhat)
Land under Survey Nos. 228 and 229 on the West side of Pam Beach Road near Karave village was acquired by CIDCO in 1973 for the development of New Mumbai. When the land was acquired, there was no mention about existence of any mazar / durgah on the receipt. After India- Pakistan war, a small mosque was constructed here, is what the local residents claim. The extension of mosque was demolished by CIDCO in 2009. In the year 1993, the Defence Department declared this area as reserved for flying rockets. There is naval base adjacent to this area and most sensitive Bhabha Atomic Research Centre is also in front of naval base. Trustees looking after mazar have demanded 15 acres of land on the side of mazar for Wakf Board in 2010 and a report on the same has been presented by an officer of Wakf Board. Hearing for handing over the land is going on at Aurangabad High Court when representatives of CIDCO and others who are taking objection to such transfer, were absent for last two hearings. The next hearing is on 3rd September and as the decision of the Court will have far reaching effect; all residents of New Mumbai are keeping an eye on the issue.

SIMI connection : 5 Fanatics arrested from Shah babu Junior College

SIMI connection : 5 Fanatics arrested from Shah babu Junior College

June 25, 2013 

Jyeshtha Krushnapaksha 2/3, Kaliyug Varsha 5115
Owing to pampering by rulers for past so many years, fanatics feel that they can get away with anything. Hindu Rashtra is required to bring them to senses !
Akola : Police arrested 2 professors and 1 student of Shah babu School at Patur; about 30 kms from here and two businessmen. 75 cell phone SIM cards and objectionable material has been confiscated from them. (It’s a hard slap to Congress rulers who shower billions of rupees on Muslims by setting up Sachhar Committee under the claim that Muslims turn to terrorism and crimes as they remain backward ! Fanatic Muslims can become terrorists even if they are educated and its base is in their ‘Dharma-shikshan’. Despite knowing this truth, rulers are overlooking the same; therefore, they should be ousted ! – Editor, Dainik Sanatan Prabhat) The case has been handed over to local investigation branch.
  1. One woman was receiving vulgar sms on her cell phone; therefore, she lodged a complaint with the Superintendent of Police when this matter was brought to light.
  2. From the hostel of Shah babu Junior College in Marhabba Colony on Patur- Balapur Road, two professors viz. Rafiq Master and Irshad Master were taken into custody in the night on Tuesday.
  3. 75 SIM cards were found in their room.
  4. On the following day in the afternoon, a student named Afsar (age- 18 yrs) from Khwaja Garib Nawaz High School was caught by the police while talking in vulgar manner.
  5. Later, Babu Khan of Lucky Mobile Shoppe Centre and Madar Shah selling spare parts of vehicles were taken into custody.
  6. Even earlier, 4 teachers from Patur were arrested on the suspicion of being associated with SIMI; therefore, the arrest of 5 persons is considered to be of significance.

200 BJP MEMBERS COURT ARREST AT CHHATRAPUR

200 BJP MEMBERS COURT ARREST AT CHHATRAPUR


 CHHATRAPUR,24 june 2013

More than two hundred men and women led by former Deputy Speaker of Assembly and National vice-president BJP Krushak Morcha courted arrest before the Sub-Collector’s office at the Ganjam district headquarters at Chhatrapur on Monday demanding resignation of both State and Central Governments due to the massive corruptions and scams.
Before arrest, while addressing the rally, Panda said that due to the coal scam, Odisha has lost revenue worth Rs one lakh crore and |the country has lost Rs four lakh crore. Natural resources are the properties of people and the Government cannot arbitrarily use them for the benefit of a few industrial houses, he said.
Panda further said that with the arrival of Narendra Modi in the national scene, some political parties like the Congress, BJD, Left, and JD(U) are absolutely scared, fearing loss of power. The year 2014 would witness Modi on one side and the rest of the political parties and leaders on the other,he added.The demonstration was in response to the call by the BJP to launch a Jail Bharo stir from Monday across the State against the massive corruptions and scams by the BJD Government, particularly the coal and chit fund scams.
Among others who courted arrest included former Ganjam block chairman Surath Pahan, BJP district president Uma Pradhan, RSS worker Gauri Bhai, BJP leaders Dharanidhar Behera, Satrughna Mahankud, Sudam Roula and Ashok Panigrahi, farmer leader Hemanta Naik, Surendra Sethi and advocate N Rajendra Kumar.

200 BJP MEMBERS COURT ARREST AT CHHATRAPUR

200 BJP MEMBERS COURT ARREST AT CHHATRAPUR


 CHHATRAPUR,24 june 2013

More than two hundred men and women led by former Deputy Speaker of Assembly and National vice-president BJP Krushak Morcha courted arrest before the Sub-Collector’s office at the Ganjam district headquarters at Chhatrapur on Monday demanding resignation of both State and Central Governments due to the massive corruptions and scams.
Before arrest, while addressing the rally, Panda said that due to the coal scam, Odisha has lost revenue worth Rs one lakh crore and |the country has lost Rs four lakh crore. Natural resources are the properties of people and the Government cannot arbitrarily use them for the benefit of a few industrial houses, he said.
Panda further said that with the arrival of Narendra Modi in the national scene, some political parties like the Congress, BJD, Left, and JD(U) are absolutely scared, fearing loss of power. The year 2014 would witness Modi on one side and the rest of the political parties and leaders on the other,he added.The demonstration was in response to the call by the BJP to launch a Jail Bharo stir from Monday across the State against the massive corruptions and scams by the BJD Government, particularly the coal and chit fund scams.
Among others who courted arrest included former Ganjam block chairman Surath Pahan, BJP district president Uma Pradhan, RSS worker Gauri Bhai, BJP leaders Dharanidhar Behera, Satrughna Mahankud, Sudam Roula and Ashok Panigrahi, farmer leader Hemanta Naik, Surendra Sethi and advocate N Rajendra Kumar.

Monday, June 24, 2013

RSS or Its functionary Indresh Kumar has no role in Malegaon Blast Case; says NIA



RSS or Its functionary Indresh Kumar has no role in Malegaon Blast Case; says NIA

New Delhi June-24: The alleged role of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh member Indresh Kumar in orchestrating the Malegaon blasts of 2006 had shocked many supporters of the right-wing organisation. However, the National Investigation Agency, NIA, which is probing the blasts that rocked the Muslim-majority textile town, believes that the RSS was never in favour of carrying out the terror strike.
Indresh Kumar, RS
Indresh Kumar, RS.
According to the NIA, Indresh Kumar did meet RSS member Sunil Joshi in Jaipur a few months before the Malegaon lasts.
During that meeting, Joshi had told Kumar about the plan to carry out an attack in Malegaon.
Kumar is believed to have told Joshi that neither he nor the Sangh would support an act of terror.
An RSS pracharak, who was present during the meeting between Joshi, Malegaon blast accused Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and Kumar, shared this information with the NIA.
During the meeting, Kumar reportedly said  the RSS does not support the eye-for-an-eye ideology propagated by Joshi and others.
In 2007, Joshi was found murdered in Dewas in Madhya Pradesh.
Joshi is also believed to have shared his plans to assassinate Justice U C Banerjee, the judge heading the probe into the Godhra train burning incident.
NIA officials told rediff.com that while Kumar advised Joshi against going ahead with his plans, the latter was adamant about carrying out the terror strike.
Immediately after the meeting, Joshi began planning the operation and assigning roles to several people.
His associates Lokesh Sharma and Ramji Kalsanghra were instructed to collect arms and ammunition while Thakur was told to handle the media attention.
Ganesh Sovani, counsel for Sadhvi Pragya Singh, says this revelation is part of the NIA’s chargesheet.
The special NIA Judge will also have to decide the fate of the two sets of accused.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Kisan Shengal had filed a charge-sheet in December 2006 against the first set of nine accused — all from the minority community — and the Central Bureau of Investigation had filed a supplementary charge-sheet.
Some of these accused had challenged the invocation of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act and the investigation in the case. Their plea was rejected by Justices D B Bhosale and A R Joshi of the Bombay high court.
One of the accused had challenged the word ‘insurgency’ used in MCOCA, along with two other accused in other terror cases (the Mumbai serial train blasts and the Aurangabad arms haul case), but their plea was also rejected by the SC.
The NIA later gave a clean chit to them on the basis of a confessional statement by Swami Assemanand, which he later retracted.
The NIA, which has been probing the case, has named four new accused from Indore, along with absconding accused Ramji Kalsangrah and Sandep Dange, in connection with the  Malegaon 2006 blasts, in its charge-sheet.
The court will now either have to accept the supplementary charge-sheets filed by the CBI and the Anti-Terrorism Squad against the first set of accused, or the charge-sheet filed by the NIA.

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Massive Response for RSS Flood Relief Campaign; RSS gets support from all Walks of Life



Massive Response for RSS Flood Relief Campaign; RSS gets support from all Walks of Life

Hubli/Bangalore, June 24: From layman to corporate officers, there was a massive response for RSS initiated flood relief campaign in Karnataka. Hundreds of RSS well wishers, others, family members of Swayamsevaks came in support for the RSS campaign. RSS campaign got tremendous response from all walks of life. Major Newspapers in Karnataka like Udayavani, Vijayavani, Hosadigantha etc published RSS appeal advertisement and supported the campaign. RSS has thanked all such personalities who responded for the initiative.
Below given are 3 inpsiring Images from Hubli, Karnataka, clicked by a Swayamsevak on Monday morning.
Muslim women contributed for RSS initiated flood relief fund at Hubli
Muslim women contributed for RSS initiated flood relief fund at Hubli
RSS Karnataka
RSS Karnataka-1


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Massive Response for RSS Flood Relief Campaign; RSS gets support from all Walks of Life

Massive Response for RSS Flood Relief Campaign; RSS gets support from all Walks of Life

Hubli/Bangalore, June 24: From layman to corporate officers, there was a massive response for RSS initiated flood relief campaign in Karnataka. Hundreds of RSS well wishers, others, family members of Swayamsevaks came in support for the RSS campaign. RSS campaign got tremendous response from all walks of life. Major Newspapers in Karnataka like Udayavani, Vijayavani, Hosadigantha etc published RSS appeal advertisement and supported the campaign. RSS has thanked all such personalities who responded for the initiative.
Below given are 3 inpsiring Images from Hubli, Karnataka, clicked by a Swayamsevak on Monday morning.
Muslim women contributed for RSS initiated flood relief fund at Hubli
Muslim women contributed for RSS initiated flood relief fund at Hubli
RSS Karnataka
RSS Karnataka-1

200 BJP MEMBERS COURT ARREST AT CHHATRAPUR

200 BJP MEMBERS COURT ARREST AT CHHATRAPUR


 CHHATRAPUR,24 june 2013

More than two hundred men and women led by former Deputy Speaker of Assembly and National vice-president BJP Krushak Morcha courted arrest before the Sub-Collector’s office at the Ganjam district headquarters at Chhatrapur on Monday demanding resignation of both State and Central Governments due to the massive corruptions and scams.
Before arrest, while addressing the rally, Panda said that due to the coal scam, Odisha has lost revenue worth Rs one lakh crore and |the country has lost Rs four lakh crore. Natural resources are the properties of people and the Government cannot arbitrarily use them for the benefit of a few industrial houses, he said.
Panda further said that with the arrival of Narendra Modi in the national scene, some political parties like the Congress, BJD, Left, and JD(U) are absolutely scared, fearing loss of power. The year 2014 would witness Modi on one side and the rest of the political parties and leaders on the other,he added.The demonstration was in response to the call by the BJP to launch a Jail Bharo stir from Monday across the State against the massive corruptions and scams by the BJD Government, particularly the coal and chit fund scams.
Among others who courted arrest included former Ganjam block chairman Surath Pahan, BJP district president Uma Pradhan, RSS worker Gauri Bhai, BJP leaders Dharanidhar Behera, Satrughna Mahankud, Sudam Roula and Ashok Panigrahi, farmer leader Hemanta Naik, Surendra Sethi and advocate N Rajendra Kumar.

Sunday, June 23, 2013

ANNUAL FUNCTION & 1ST UTKALMANI SEVA SAMMAN-2013 OF UTKAL BIPANNA SAHAYATA SAMITI


ANNUAL FUNCTION & 1ST UTKALMANI SEVA SAMMAN-2013
OF UTKAL BIPANNA SAHAYATA SAMITI

The annual function-2013 of Utkal Bipanna Sahayata Samiti (UBSS) was held at 5.30 P.M. on 23.06.2013(Sunday) at Bhanja Kala Mandap, Lewis road, Bhubaneswar. The organization, represented by the social workers & volunteers, has been selflessly & dedicatedly working  for the upliftment of the downtrodden & underpriviledged since its inception in 1982. Swami BrahmachitJi, Prabhari of Art of living, Odisha , Dr. Mahendra Prasad Tripathy, Director of Aditya Care Hospital, Bhubaneswar, Sri Shreedhar Paradkar, Organising Secretary of Akhila Bharatiya Sahitya Parishad Nyas, New Delhi were present in the function as Chief Guest, Guest of Honour & Chief Speaker respectively. The function was presided by the president of UBSS Sri Prakash Betala. All the persons present in the function gave their deep condolence to all the deceased devotees who lost their lives as a result of recent devastating flood in Uttarakhand, by doing a one minute’s silence prayer. On his presidential speech, Sri Betala, on behalf of Utkal Bipanna Sahayata Samiti, appealed all the sections of the Society, individuals &  organizations at large irrespective of cast, creed & religion to extend their free hands to support the affected persons thorugh the organization. The invitees were welcomed  by a welcome song presented by the pupils of Saraswati Shishu Bidya Mandir, Badagada BRIT Colony, Bhubaneswar. The activities of UBSS were presented by a photo exhibition. Sri Mansukh Lal Sethia, Secretary of UBSS presented the annual work report of the organization. On this occasion, the first “UTKALMANI SEVA SAMMAN-2013”  initiated by UBSS was honoured to Dr. Acharya Suryakant Pattajoshi, who has been selflessly & dedicatedly working in the health service sector  for the people living in the remotest areas of Odisha. On his speech, the chief speaker of the function Sri Shreedhar Paradakar spoke about the importance of  “Selfless Service” for everybody in  the society for  all round development of our country. The inmates of ShreeJagannath Niketan(Orphanage run by UBSS), presented a heart touching cultural programme to make the function a successful end.  At last, the function was concluded by vote of thanks by Sri  Indramani Send, Treasurer of UBSS followed by mass singing of  national song “Vande Mataram”.

Narendra Modi joins RSS team at Uttarakhand, RSS keen on Flood Relief Campaign



Narendra Modi joins RSS team at Uttarakhand, RSS keen on Flood Relief Campaign

Uttarakhand June 23: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi joined RSS team of flood relief campaign at Uttarakhand on Saturday evening. RSS Swayamsevaks are working on the continuous 5th day at flood hit zones of Uttarakhand.
Gujarat CM Narendra Modi reaches RSS office for Flood Relief Campaign at Uttarakhand on June-22-Saturday.
Gujarat CM Narendra Modi reaches RSS office for Flood Relief Campaign at Uttarakhand on June-22-Saturday.
Please Click to see RSS Press Release from Uttarakhand:

RSS -Uttarakhand Updates-June-22-2013

pic DSCN9631 DSCN9741 DSCN9742

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Miracle : Kedarnath temple was saved from disaster !

Miracle : Kedarnath temple was saved from disaster !

June 23, 2013
Jyeshtha Pournima, Kaliyug Varsha 5115
 
In the deluge, all area surrounding Kedarnath Temple has been destroyed; but surprisingly, Kedarnath Temple has been saved. When one news channel tried to investigate the matter; it was found that huge stones came floating with water and got positioned at a distance of few feet on the backside of temple. They prevented flood water from entering the temple and it started flowing from both the sides of the temple. It was found that no damage has been caused to the temple. 

Heaps of dead bodies lying in the area of Kedarnath Temple

 
Many dead bodies are lying in the area of Kedarnath temple; spreading stink in the area as last rites could not be performed on many dead bodies even after 5 days. The condition is becoming serious day by day. The above information was given by Agriculture Minister Harak Singh Ravat of Uttarakhand. Ravat had gone to Kedarnath for performing ‘puja’. He also said that other than ‘Nandi’, nothing is remaining in the temple premises.

Uttarakhand flood issue : Nobody is left who is worth taking ‘darshan’ of Deity !

 
Intellectuals who are always against Hindu Deities, should remember that a temple when gets washed away in floods, it means that Deities are leaving that place as there is no able person left who is worth of having Deity’s ‘darshan’ !
It was shown in one news item on TV that a small temple was washed away in the floods of River Ganga and the news reporter was saying that the nature has not spared even God. This reporter probably does not know (or may be he knows but has conveniently forgotten) that it is God’s wrath through the medium of nature. Everything happens as per God’s wish. An idol of Deity made by a human getting washed away in water does not mean that the existence of God is destroyed; but it should be remembered that the Deity is immersing self in water. As nobody is left who is worth taking ‘darshan’ of Deity, the Deity has no wish to remain there and vanishes from there. Immorality and promiscuity is leading to disgrace of Deities and all are facing its consequences. Deities are most subtle principles. These principles are consecrated in idols so that it becomes easy for us to worship them; but in this ‘Kali-Yuga’, people don’t care about such things. Gods are used for commercial purpose in selfish interests. People are behaving as if they want to sell God. The deeds of people have stooped to such low level that even an animal will feel ashamed.
(In such period of crisis, people having faith in God, start praying to Him and God comes to their rescue; but with such comments made by media-persons, people’s faith in God reduces. If people cannot be asked to worship God; then it should at least, be seen that people’s faith is not diminished due to media. – Editor, Dainik Sanatan Prabhat)

FIRST UTKALMANI SEVA SAMMAN PRESENTED


FIRST UTKALMANI SEVA SAMMAN PRESENTED

Bhubaneswar,23/6(vsk)-The annual function of the Utkal Bipanna Sahayata Samiti (UBSS) was held at the Bhanja Kala Mandap here on Sunday. On this occasion, the first Utkalmani Seva Samman-2013 initiated by the UBSS was presented to Dr Acharya Suryakant Pattajoshi, who has been selflessly working in the health service sector for the people living in the remotest areas of the State.
Swami BrahmachitJi, Prabhari of Art of Living, Odisha, Dr Mahendra Prasad Tripathy, Director of Aditya Care Hospital, Bhubaneswar, Shreedhar Paradkar and Organising Secretary of Akhila Bharatiya Sahitya Parishad Nyas, New Delhi were present at the function as the chief guest, guest of honour and chief speaker, respectively.
The function was presided over by UBSS president Prakash Betala, who appealed to all the sections of the society to extend their support to the people in distress through the UBSS.
The activities of the UBSS were presented at a photo exhibition. UBSS secretary Mansukh Lal Sethia read out the annual work report of the organisation. Inmates of Shree Jagannath Niketan, an orphanage run by the UBSS, presented a heart-touching cultural programme at the end.
By Golakha Chandra Das

Support Uttarakhand flood victims



Support Uttarakhand flood victims

Appeal by Seva Bharati


Over a Million affected in the Himalayan Tsunami i.e. the cloudburst and floods in Uttarakhand. Villages together washed away, pain, death and helpless victims everywhere. 38 hours of incessant rains in the hilly garhwal region left local people and pilgrims visiting the holy shrines desperate and helpless.

Kilometres of roads had been washed away. Many bridges, houses, water lines, canals, check dams, electricity lines, power houses and other public and private property had been severely damaged. Kedarnath which is the worst affected has 60 villages washed away in the flood fury is awaiting relief and rescue. An expected 72,000 pilgrims and over a million local people have been affected by the floods.

Seva Bharati Appeals for support to the flood victims and the pilgrims stranded there without food and water. The organization has deployed its volunteers on the relief and rescue mission and invite you to be part of the effort.


Support the Flood affected :
Please do mention your name and address so that we can update you along with a receipt of your contribution.

• Online transfer can be done to Seva Bharati A/C.
• You can also write a cheque/draft and drop it in any ICICI branch.
• All contributions to Seva Bharati are tax-exempt under 80G.

ICICI Bank number 630501065297
IFSC Code ICIC0006305
Himayatnagar Branch, Hyderabad

Admn Off :
Seva Bharati,
3-2-106, Nimboliadda,
Kachiguda, Hydrabad-500027
Ph: 040-24610056

Regd Off :
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3-4-852, Keshava Nilayam, Barkatpura,
Hyderabad, A.P.-500027
Ph: 040-27565447.


Saturday, June 22, 2013

WHY BJP SHOULD NOT BOTHER ABOUT THE MUSLIM VOTE

WHY BJP SHOULD NOT BOTHER ABOUT

THE MUSLIM VOTE


Muslims have never voted for the BJP in any parliamentary election. Even when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was projected as the prime minister, Muslims opposed the BJP . So, presenting a liberal face for the sake of blunting the Muslim opposition is not such a great idea, says G V L Narasimha Rao. Does the Bharatiya Janata Party need a 'liberal' leader to present a softer image to the Muslims? This is the demand made by Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal-United leader Nitish Kumar. In my view, this Muslim-centric thinking is not only flawed but a treacherous attempt to isolate the BJP and its parent body the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and push them on the defensive. The moot question is whether the BJP should pander to such demands for a liberal leader to increase its acceptability among Muslims. To my mind, the answer is a firm no. I cite two reasons in support of my stand: Firstly, Muslims have never voted for the BJP in any parliamentary election. Even when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was projected as the prime minister, Muslims vehemently opposed the BJP in every single parliamentary election. So, presenting a liberal face for the sake of blunting the Muslim opposition is not such a great idea. Second, it makes eminent political sense for the BJP to stick to its core ideology of non-appeasement for it benefited it immensely. Let me cite the instance of two minority dominant states, namely Uttar Pradesh and Kerala, to elucidate this point. Muslim opposition helps the BJP The widely propagated theory that Muslim consolidation against the BJP hurts it electorally is bunkum. It is a bogie raised by the BJP 's opponents and its own apologists. There is ample evidence to the contrary. Muslims' rabid opposition to the BJP has indeed proved to be beneficial to it electorally. Take the case of Uttar Pradesh. In the 1996 Lok Sabha elections, held three years after Babri masjid demolition, the BJP bagged 52 of 85 seats. Again, in 1998, the BJP bagged 57 seats. If vehement opposition from Muslims and their tactical voting against the BJP could defeat the party, it could not have performed well in UP in both these elections. The outcome of 1996 and 1998 elections in Uttar Pradesh shows that the opposition of Muslims does not adversely affect the BJP . On the contrary, the Muslims' opposition to the BJP has been beneficial to it electorally by consolidating Hindu votes in its favour. Hindu polarisation hurts the Congress Let me now cite the case of Kerala where excessive minority wooing has hurt the Congress party severely. In 2011 assembly polls, Congress party's coalition partners, namely the Muslim League and Kerala Congress-M, aggressively wooed their Muslim and Christian vote banks respectively. A reverse polarisation of Hindus resulted in Congress party's poor tally of 38 of the 87 seats it contested. Polarisation of Hindu voters in favour of the Left Democratic Front ensured that it did remarkably well in Hindu dominant regions. The Congress party faced a similar experience in the 1980s when the Rajiv Gandhi-led Congress party attempted to woo Muslim voters aggressively by pursuing appeasement politics. When the party feared a Hindu backlash, he was forced to backtrack from his efforts. Generally, Hindus who constitute over 80 percent of India's electorate do not vote as a bloc. But whenever Muslims were wooed aggressively by some parties to the point of causing aversion among Hindus, a reverse consolidation of Hindus happened as a natural reaction. The Hindus vote as a community only under strong provocation or in a rare reaction to community-wise intensive build up by the minorities. The massive electoral wave of 1984 in favour of Rajiv Gandhi following Indira Gandhi's assassination was a Hindu reaction to the killing of the then prime minister by Sikh extremists. Every attempt to target Modi would consolidate Hindu votes in BJP 's favour Narendra Modi is synonymous with development, progress and incorruptible governance. Even before his projection at the national level, Modi has notched up high rankings as the preferred prime minister. His formidable reputation and popular ratings are unnerving rival claimants to the high office. The attempts to target Modi have acquired urgency in this regard. The Congress and other parties can be expected to intensify this 'anti-Modi' rhetoric as the 2014 election draws closer. Every attempt to target Modi would consolidate the Hindu votes in favour of the BJP without the BJP doing anything to cause such a reaction. It is the common 'mass psychology' to support someone opposed by everybody and that too without justification. Would attempts targeting Modi not have the potential to derail the campaign focus from mis-governance of the United Progressive Alliance? No. With a leader like Modi steering the BJP campaign, the focus would automatically be on development and corruption-free governance. If the Congress party and allies seek to communalise the campaign; that would be an added 'bonus'. The demand for a (pseudo) secular leader is not just an anachronistic idea but a smokescreen for pursuit of old style vote bank politics. Pursuit of such politics may be the pathological compulsion of some parties but their appeal in contemporary politics is highly limited as even Muslims are realising the self-serving designs of political leaders. The nation is reeling under mis-governance of the Congress-led UPA regime at the Centre. What it needs is a capable leader who can give the country a corruption free, development-oriented high quality governance. The whole nation is eagerly awaiting a leader and a progressive agenda for the next Lok Sabha polls to steer it out of the inertia that grips the country. The BJP must remain focused on this national imperative and not stray into archaic debate on secularism versus communalism. The BJP , as a national party of governance, cannot let itself be held hostage to the vote bank considerations of its 'secular' allies, much against its own core values and beliefs.

Should such allies choose to go their own way, the BJP must be prepared to fight elections on its own. I am certain it would have nothing to lose going it alone. Even if it does, isn't it better to lose elections temporarily rather than lose your soul?
Rediff.com News

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