Formation of 'hindu vote bank' urged

Guwahati, Mar 6 (UNI) Asom Satra Mahasabha president Bhadra Krishna Dev Goswami today called on the Hindus to 'organise' themselves to protect their rights.

Addressing a press meet here, he claimed the Hindus, though forming 85 per cent of the total population in the country, had long being 'exploited' as no organised attempts were made to protect their rights and privileges.

Elaborating on the resolutions adopted during the 11th religion convocation here recently, the mahasabha president urged the need to form a 'hindu vote bank' to fight for the demands of the people of the community.

Maintaining that the mahasabha was a non-political body, he made it clear that it would not remain a spectator to conversion of hindus ''on gun point or by providing them with lucrative financial benefits''.

To an question whether a call for a hindu vote bank would flare up communal tension in the pre-poll atmosphere, Mr Dev Goswami said the concept was mooted in a religious meet in July last year itself.

He stressed on the role of the media in ensuring that no communal disturbances were caused due to this concept.

Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) north east president Jyotish Chandra Pathak, also addressing the meet, claimed that Muslim and Christian vote banks existed from the past and maintained that a Hindu vote bank was long overdue to 'protect' the Hindus.

Mr Pathak, quoting the minority commission chairman, said conversion of Hindus to Islam had grown sharply over the years.

He also alleged that conversion to christianity in hill areas was particularly rampant after Mrs Sonia Gandhi assumed the Congress's chief post.

He said the VHP was against conversion based on prospects of financial benefits, adding steps were being taken by the body for the economic well-being of the Hindus.

UNI SG VD BD1706