Ambedkarit have no faith in Lord Ram: Udit Raj

Allahabad, Sep 23 (UNI) Indian Justice Party (IJP) president and All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations chairman Dr Udit Raj today said Ambedkarites ''have no faith in Lord Ram.'' Talking to newspersons here, Dr Raj said even Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar had branded Ramayan as a book based on ''blind faith and sheer imagination''.

''VHP leaders like Ashok Singhal, Dr Praveen Bhai Togadia and Giriraj Kishore never miss an opportunity to exploit Hindu sentiments on political, social and religious issues at the slightest provocation.'' Dr Raj said there was nothing ''unscientific, unhistorical and devoid of facts'' about the affidavit filed by the Union Tourism and Culture Ministry in the court.

''However, motivated by vote - bank politics, the Congress decided to withdraw the affidavit...the affidavit simply said the Ram Sethu was not been built by Lord Ram and the 'vanar Sena' (monkeys).'' Dr Raj said we should not forget that the development of the country was possible because of the living people and scientific approach and not through blind faith and mythological stories of Ramayan, and others.

He said BJP senior leader L K Advani did not have the guts for a debate on the issue and only wanted to take political advantage by exploiting religious sentiments of Hindus.

''People like Mr Advani were once again looking for an issue like Ram temple, but they should not forget that now the people would not fall into their trap,'' Dr Raj added.

The country will have to be put fast on scientific temper, but VHP the and BJP are sticking to orthodoxy and blind faith, he alleged.

The IJP president said Dalits, backwards and the poor should not be swayed by the religious sentiments and should develop a scientific temper for the country's development.

''May be, in the present context, the VHP and BJP may derive some advantage, but ultimately it will weaken Hinduism because the birth of Lord Ram cannot be established like the birth of Christ, Lord Buddha, Lord Mahavira and Prophet Mohammad.'' He warned the VHP against diverting peoples' attention from main issues like employment and education, as it would weaken the integrity of the country.

Dr Raj, supporting 27 per cent reservation to backward classes, demanded equal syllabus and compulsory education to all.

UNI