JALANDHAR: Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh and his cabinet colleague Finance Minister Kewal Knishan, shared the stage with banned Vishwa Hindu Parishads national vice president Mahant Ram Parkash Dass at the “rashtriya raksha sammelan” organized by Punjab Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, here.
However, the Chief Minister had left after speaking and having been honored by the organizers when the Mahant, who was last arrested and released by a court in Hushiarpur district, extolled the demolition of Baba mosque at Ayodhya saying “we have removed the black spot we had got five centuries ago.” But Dr. Kewal Krishan was present at the Dias when the VHP leader made the Statement adding that those people who lived in India but held loyalties towards others should be Drought to the mainstream.
The Punjab Finance Minister was hooted and jeered with shouts of “shame shame” by the large assembly of people at the sammelan when he said the demolition at Ayodhya was the result of disloyalty committed by some people towards the Central government. The minister held these people responsible for the violence that corrupted in the country in the aftermath of the Ayodhya incident He said it was these people who were responsible for demolition of temples and gurdwaras inside and outside the country. On the Ayodhya issue, Punjab Sanatan Dharam Sabha president Pi. Mohan said people were being exploited emotionally to serve political interests.
In his welcome address. Punjab Arya Pratinidhi Sabha president Virender said the sammelan had been organized in view of the challenge posed by certain elements to the unity and sovereignty of the county, He said the sabhor favored a bigger Punjab, including Himachal Pradesh and Haryana. Swami Sarvanand president Jatiya Mandal asked the people to Serve society and the nation without having any lust for money of power.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 8, 1993
