Mangaluru: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), which is organizing ‘Hindu Samajotsava’ on March 1, said that the convention would not encourage hate speeches and is rather aimed to uphold communal harmony.
Speaking to the reporters here in the city on Thursday, S. Ganesh Rao, who is the honorary president of the organizing committee, said that the convention will he held within the legal and constitutional framework. “We have asked the key speakers to refrain from delivering hate speeches”, he added.
M.B Puranik, right wing activist said that the Hindu Samajotsava is organized to commemorate the fiftieth year of VHP. Our aim is to inculcate the ideals of Hindu nation, bringing all religions together. There will not be any provocative speeches or hate politics, he added.
The Hindus should not be considered as a second grade citizen in India. It is a Hindu rastra. The convention is to show our strength, our unity and correct our flaws. The special focus is on cow conservation and a larger role for women”, Mr. Puranik said.
We are expecting over one lakh crowd for the convention, which will begin in a procession at 3pm from Jyothi Circle to the Nehru Maidan. Sadhvi Balika Saraswathi Mishra of Madhya Pradesh will be the key speaker, Mr. Rao told the media.
Vittal Vijaynath Shetty, a popular congress face in Mangaluru will preside over the convention. Mr. Shetty said that he decided to take part in the programme as he too was a Hindu. “For me religion is first and not party. The convention is not a BJP programme but of the Hindus”, he said.
However, the organizers did not confirm the participation of Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat, a rightwing activist, who was accused of delivering hate speech at Virat Hindu Convention in Puttur, which led to communal clash. “We will decide about another speaker for the convention after discussion in the core committee”, Jagadish Shenava said to a question.
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Mangaluru: Congress leader to preside over VHP’s Hindu convention
