Pics: Arun Uppinangady
Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Jan 17: 'Hindus have always faced repression in the form of religious conversions or change of rulers over and over again. We cannot be silent anymore and let the Hindu population to dwindle continuously. We ask the government to either ban religious conversions, or allow us to go ahead with our re-conversion initiatives,' said international president of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Pravinbhai Togadia.

He was delivering the keynote address at athe 'Virat Hindu Hridaya Sangama' programme organized in the fields opposite Lord Mahalingeshwara Temple here on Friday January 16. Togadia stoutly placed arguments in favour of assuring safety for Hindus and for making India a Hindu nation. He also demanded for enforcement of uniform civil code.

Togadia asked whether the government can enforce the rule that every couple can have only two children. 'If not, how can one find fault in the call given to parents to have four children?' he asked. He called upon Hindus to stand up against Love Jihad which he said, aims at changing the identity of the nation.

'We are not in a position to celebrate the real 'Samajotsava'. We can celebrate it only after four lac Hindu families in Kashmir, which got converted under duress, come back to Hinduism. Temple dedicated to Lord Rama has to come up at Ayodhya. Pakistan, which took birth because of division of India, should cease to exist, and a united India should emerge. Only after all these things are achieved, we can hold our celebrations in real sense,' he opined.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader, Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat, who presided over the programme, said that nothing remains of India if Hindu society is separated from it. 'Hindu society and country have grown together. Hindu society has always aimed at the welfare of the world, and it did not support religious conversions. Because of the fact that there are enemies of Hinduism within Hindu society, the policy of minority appeasement is continuing,' he opined.

Bhat accused the state government of sanctioning huge amount of compensation during the death of illegal cattle traffickers, and doing nothing for Hindu girls who face injustice and die. Branding religious conversion as part of an international plan, he said by coming together, Hindus can effectively fight against this menace.

Sri Rajashekharananda Swamiji of Gurpur Vajradehi Math, Manila Mohandas Swamiji, and Odiyoor Sri Gurudevananda Swamiji, delivered introductory addresses. They called upon Hindus to unite, failing which they warned that erosion of Maths, temples, and other houses of worship might occur, which eventually result in down slide for Hindu culture and refinement.

Balekody Math Shashikanth Mani Swamiji, entrepreneur, Kudgi Sudhakar Shenoy, Bantwal taluk panchayat former president, Babu Mugera, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leaders, Rajamatha Chandrakanta Devi and Meenakshi Thayi Peshwe, Bajrang Dal leaders, Sharan Pumpwell and Bhaskar Dharmasthala, were at the dais.

VHP southern province working president, M B Punranik and golden jubilee celebrations reception committee district president, Arunkumar Puttila, delivered introductory address. President of Virat Hindu Hridaya Sangama Committee, Dr M K Prasad, welcomed. VHP district president, Deekaiah Pervody, proposed vote of thanks. VHP district Satsanga Pramukh, Kashekody Sooryanarayana Bhat presented the programme.

A record crowd of over 50,000 had come together for the eent on Friday. Two processions which began from Darbe and Bolwar respectively marched through the town and merged together at the venue of the event.