VHP plans “Hindu conventions” on Ram Mandir across West Bengal to trigger religious sentiment

The situation in Ayodhya is tense over the Ram Mandir issue with Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Shiv Sena holding programmes and rallies and demanding that the Centre go ahead with the construction of the temple. There are demands even from sections of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that the government go ahead with an ordinance because the case is now pending in court.

Under this backdrop, the VHP is cashing in on the situation to garner support in West Bengal too. The right wing group wants to trigger religious sentiment and raise demands for the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya from among the people of West Bengal.

The VHP has thus planned to organise a large number of “Hindu conventions” with people across 19 districts of West Bengal. There are talks of a massive gathering in front of Kolkata’s Shahid Minar which will be attended by ‘sadhus and intellectuals’ from across the country.

In addition, the VHP plans to observe ‘Geeta Jayanti’ for seven days, organised through the village committees on December 18. Most of the meetings have been planned especially in BJP stronghold areas. VHP leader Sachindranath Sinha however dismissed any political agenda behind these conventions. He stated that the idea is to unite Hindus across the country who he claims have been insulted and were living in an atmosphere of terror.