The ripples of the Ram temple issue are about to reach West Bengal as the VHP has decided to hold public rallies in every district of the state demanding the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
According to VHP state leadership, the rallies will be held in West Bengal throughout December and are aimed at “urging the Hindus of Bengal” to unite in support of the demand for the Ram temple.
“The main purpose of the rallies will be to make the younger generation of Hindus in Bengal more aware of the Ram temple and Ram Janmabhumi issue which is a matter of national pride,” Sourish Mukherjee, state VHP spokesperson, told DH.
He also said that the drive to gain public support for the Ram temple will not just be limited to holding rallies but the VHP will hold a statewide campaign in this regard.
“We will reach out to people at the ground level and if necessary will go door to door for the sake of Ram temple,” Mukherjee said.
The state VHP leadership made it clear that they will go ahead with the programme even if they have to face an obstruction from the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the state government.
“This is not a political program neither is VHP a political organisation. Our struggle for Ram temple has been going on for decades and hopefully no political party will try to create obstructions. Even if they do we will go ahead with the rallies,” a senior state VHP leader said.
However, the drive to ramp up public support for the Ram temple will not just be limited to the districts. The Hindu Jagaran Manch, an RSS-backed organisation, will hold a rally in the Sahid Minar Maidan in central Kolkata on December 15 with the Ram temple as one of its key agendas.
“We appeal to all the Hindus of Bengal across party lines to take part in the Virat Hindu Sammelan (mega Hindu conference) on December 15 in Kolkata,” said Vivek Singh, saha prachar pramukh (assistant media in charge) of Hindu Jagaran Manch.
The ruling TMC leadership brushed aside VHP and Hindu Jagaran Manch’s programs as “futile and insignificant.”
Deccan Herald is on WhatsApp Channels| Join now for Breaking News & Editor's Picks