VHP to boost protest against Communal Violence Bill

Accusing the UPA Government of appeasing minorities, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Monday said it will intensify its campaign against the draft of `Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence' bill, 2011.

Senior VHP leader Pravin Togadia alleged that the proposed bill was biased against the majority community and would make police "subservient to minority community".

Togadia accused the National Advisory Council (NAC), headed by Sonia Gandhi, for being anti-Hindu. Such a "draconian" law did not exist even in the Mughal or the British periods, he said.

"Under no circumstance we will allow such a law in the country. We will fight it in the streets," Togadia told reporters while launching a 24-hour Hindu helpline service to assist members of the community.

And if the government passes the bill, he warned that it would embarrass the Congress and its president Sonia Gandhi on the lines of Shah Bano episode during the Rajiv Gandhi era.

Adding to the comments of Togadia was Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa who wrote to all non-Congress chief ministers and MPs goading them to oppose the bill.

"I appeal to all right-thinking political parties and MPs to look at the real intentions of the UPA government at the Centre in piloting this fascist Bill and unite in throwing this out at the introduction stage itself," Jayalalithaa said in a statement.

In Karnataka, the Hindu Janjagrati Samiti last week staged a protest opposing the bill stating that there was no need for a separate bill to curb communal violence.

The protest in Mangalore on Thursday was joined by BJP youth morcha activists, ABVP members, hundreds of women activists and leaders of Hindu religious outfits.

Hindu Janjagrati Samiti Dakshina Kannada (DK) district co-ordinator Ramanand Gowda said several Hindu organisations will collectively stage protest all over the state condemning the Union Government's "interest in protecting minority communities".

The draft of the Communal Violence Bill is likely to be introduced in the ongoing session of Parliament.

The bill permits the central government to declare any case of communal violence as 'internal disturbance' within the ambit of Article 355 of the Constitution and take actions.

It also to purposes to set up a National Authority for Communal Harmony, Justice and Reparation and State Authorities for Communal Harmony, Justice and Reparation. The National Authority will have powers to direct the state authorities to conduct an inquiry in the state.

Christian leaders during a recent national consultation had critiqued the Bill observing that it contained disturbing features which were contrary to the purposes of a law aimed at combating communal violence.

"We cannot accept the present NAC draft bill. We will continue our struggle for a meaningful and effective CV Bill, fully engaging government and civil society in the process," they said.