Herald publishes HJS's stand against article defaming HJS

Vaishakh Krushna Ekadashi

By Staff Reporter

‘Herald’, a daily newspaper from Goa had published defamatory and misleading information about the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) in the editorial section of its 2nd May 08 issue. This article titled ‘Religion or Politics’ written by Mr. Vidyadhar Gadgil contains baseless remarks and misleading, defamatory information about the objectives and activities of the HJS. The HJS sent a letter to the editor of this newspaper questioning it about the content of the said article and clarifying the doubts raised by its writer. The HJS’ stand in this regard was published by the Herald in the same space on the editorial page of its 7th May 08 issue.

We are giving below the anti-HJS article published by the Herald and the HJS’ reply to the same for the benefit of our readers and other people in the society. We hope that this will clarify the doubts regarding the HJS’ activities, if any, raised in the minds of the people as a result of the said article.

Anti-HJS article published in ‘Herald’

• Anti-HJS Article published in Herald by Vidyadhar Gadgil (Page 1)

• Anti-HJS Article published in Herald by Vidyadhar Gadgil (Page 2)

Reply of HJS published on 7th May in ‘Herald’

To,
The Editor,
Herald, Panjim, Goa.

Subject: In response to the editorial ‘Religion or Politics’ (by Vidyadhar Gadgil) May 2, 2008 issue.

Sir,
This is in response to the editorial ‘Religion or Politics’, (by Vidyadhar Gadgil) in your May 2, 2008 issue. We would like to clarify not only the points mentioned by Vidyadhar Gadgil but also the misinformation being conveyed about the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) through this article of his.

Mr. Gadgil has questioned the Dharma Jagruti Sabha by saying ‘Religion or Politics’. We would like to mention that the HJS is a non-political organisation working solely for the cause of Sanatan Hindu Dharma by causing religious awakening of Hindus by providing them with scientific information about Hindu Dharma; also of the various assaults on Sanatan Hindu Dharma and protesting against them in a peaceful and constitutional manner.

Mr. Gadgil has mentioned about the HJS’s campaign on Ram Setu on religious grounds. We would like to state that Lord Rama is a matter of Hindu faith and that by itself is a very strong ground than the other grounds like environmental or economical. There are instances where unlawful constructions on roads like Cross (Khuris), Masjids, etc. have been preserved by municipal authorities just because of religious reasons.

Mr. Gadgil has questioned about the education of Hindus by the HJS, co-relating it with increased incidences of conversion and temple destruction. What is wrong in that? Is it not a duty of any Hindu to protect his religion by awakening his brothers? Let us not forget that in this country the Hindus have always been ruled by anti-Hindu ideologies for centuries together. How can Goans forget the deadly infamous inquisition?

Mr. Gadgil has stated that the HJS is set up by initiative of seekers of Sanatan Sanstha and in Goa it appears to have taken over many activities of Sanatan Sanstha and many of office bearers of this organisation are same. Basically, this is an altogether unrelated issue that needs no discussion. But to save readers from Mr. Gadgil’s misinformation campaign, we would like to clarify that the HJS is an independent organisation consisting of various other organised and non-organised Hindus that come together on mutually acceptable issues related to Sanatan Hindu Dharma. Let it be very clear that such well-known divisive tactics will not create any effect on the HJS’ efforts or its constituents; rather it will increase the popularity of its constituent organisations!

Mr. Gadgil has further mentioned about HJS increasing its tempo of activities in Goa by organising the F.A.C.T (Foundation Against Continuing Terrorism) Exhibition prepared by Mr. Francois Gautier. The truth is that Mr. Gautier had to create such an exhibition to highlight the atrocities committed on Kashmiri Hindu Pandits. This in itself speaks of the failure of the existing media to highlight this ghastly genocide of Hindus in Kashmir, Bangladesh and West Bengal.

The statistics of more than 7.5 lakhs Kashmiri Hindu Pandits being displaced from Kashmir, more than 93,000 Kashmiri Hindu Pandits being killed and more than 60,000 troops lost, which is much more as compared to a war, speaks for itself. The media never highlighted the brutal incident of rape of 200 Hindu women in one night by Jihadi terrorist in a village in the North East. Does this not speak of the magnitude of the problem? In such a situation how can bringing this in front of public be called communal? On the contrary, such an article which misleads readers spreads communalism in the garb of secularism, in the true sense.

Mr. Gadgil has called Bajrang Dal’s Shri. Jayesh Naik’s speech at Margao as propagating hate. In fact, Mr. Naik has just put forth the facts that have taken place in Margao! How can that be called hate speech? What does Mr. Gadgil have to say about the Margao Masjid incident on 6th April at Margao? I was present on the dais and I know he has mentioned the incident and raised a question about how come a Masjid has weapons like swords in its premises? This has actually been reported and mentioned in police records too! What is wrong in that?

About the HJS’ website, Mr. Gadgil comments as inciting violence from the reaction of the Hindus to the various assaults on Hindu Dharma. In fact, the HJS’ website reports happenings around the globe about Hinduism, activities of HJS against atrocities on Hindus and attacks on Hinduism apart from explaining various aspects of Hinduism. Now if there is a report about such atrocities then hate responsibility of that violence is not on the one who is reporting but on the perpetrator of the violence. Now awakening other Hindus becomes a logical and normal thing. Compare this with any incidence which hurts religious sentiments of Muslims. There is actual violence. Sometimes the issue is very minor or actually there is hardly any substance in the allegation of violent mob. Or you may compare this with a threat issued by Christian MP to Goa government when the movie ‘Da Vinci Code’ was to be screened. The qualitative difference in these cases is worth noting!

Mr. Gadgil has further mentioned about the message of Dr. Jayant Athavale, the founder of Sanatan Sanstha exhorting Hindus to embrace the aggressive path. Actually it will be better if you publish the message for your readers to judge for themselves. Dr. Jayant Athavale has asked the readers to take note of the Buddhist monks of Tibet and Myanmar who raised there voice against oppressors and their methods were well appreciated by many freedom loving wise men of this world. He has asked to respond to a person in the language that he understands.

Now when the tenth standard Marathi history textbook problem in Goa was taken up by the HJS through public protests (Please note all were silent and there were no arrests during those protests), the Goan Chief Minister accepted these mistakes on the floor of the house and the government’s inability to punish anybody etc. Now, Dr. Athavale’s statement came after these protests! Will Mr. Gadgil use his pen to ask punishment for those who spend public money for printing useless books that are made available to the students a few weeks before the board examinations? In this case, what HJS has done is to respond in the language which is understood by the government. So it would have been better if Mr. Gadgil had also mentioned the reason and the context when he quoted Dr. Athavale’s statements.

Mr. Gadgil alleges the activities of the HJS as political, communal, divisive and dividing Hindus. In fact it is become a common practice for any person who calls himself secular to label any Hindu who is trying to awaken, guide Hindus or fight, protest against the various assaults on Hindu Dharma as communal. It is these sorts of thoughts that are inciting communal feelings and labeling Hindus as fundamentalists and fanatics, when the real culprits are the persons expressing such thoughts. As such, allegations without substance will only create hatred. So instead of branding Hindutvavadis like this, Mr. Gadgil should respond according to the issues raised.

When a Hindu politician like Shri. Sudin Dhavalikar does something for his Dharma he is immediately politicized, but there are instances of non-Hindu politicians like Churchill Alemao who resorted to means well-known to stop the screening of the ‘Da Vinci Code’ in Goa. Syed Shahabuddin, the then MP, asked for ban on Satanic verses without even reading it. The list is endless. Thanks to the communalism practiced by preachers of secularism in this country! What does Mr. Gadgil have to say about it?

Dharma is much a vaster and holistic entity encompassing the entire human life and Mahatma Gandhi’s views on Dharma as a moral, ethical order independent of organized religion cannot be taken as the ultimate truth as it was his personal understanding and interpretation of Hindu Dharma. In order to understand Hindu Dharma, one has to take efforts to study and practice it; that is doing spiritual practice (Sadhana).

Once again we would like to re-iterate that the agenda of the HJS is purely religious and not political as Mr. Gadgil claims and that the anti-Hindu stance of the government is making it inevitable for the Hindus to protest. Will Mr. Gadgil try and understand this point?

Yours Faithfully,
For Hindu Janajagruti Samiti

Dr.Manoj Solanki
Spokesperson, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (Goa)
Mob. No. 93261 03278, Email: [email protected]