Source: Times News Network
MAHUDI, GUJARAT, August 20, 2002: It was pure vitriol that flowed out of this pilgrim village on Tuesday as religious leaders from across Gujarat representing various sects gave vent to their disenchantment with the Bharatiya Janata Party and Vishwa Hindu Parishad. According to this report, they said the BJP-VHP combine used them for 20 years to solicit votes, but gave nothing in return — not even respect. “It was for Ram Mandir that we helped BJP. We sent them to the throne of Delhi. But after they came to power, the controversy grew from two to 72 acres. Today, we are not able to put our foot in that holy land,” said Chhote Morari Bapu. “People have voted for the BJP seeing faces of the saints and not that of the party. But the party in power is fooling the saints. They now say Ram Mandir is not on their agenda,” said Dhansukhnath Mahant of Ramdevpir temple, Ahmedabad. The flash-point apparently came sometime back when the ‘sant-mahants’ went to meet Narendra Modi. “He talked with great arrogance. He insulted us and asked us what we wanted to take away from him,” recollected Chhote Morari Bapu, a famed preacher. Adding insult to the injury, the BJP government took away the administration of Koteshwar in Kutch, Harshad near Porbandar and temples in Gir forest from the ‘mahants,’ they alleged. Insult by Modi, his refusal to continue the tribal-category benefits to the families of Goswamis (priests) and murders of temple priests over property completed the disenchantment. “We went to people in Mehsana district and asked them to vote for BJP. We used to say it’s not just another political party. But today we realize that the VHP has neglected us,” said Sant Narayandas of Mehsana. Mahant Baldevgiri of Valinath, who chaired the gathering and heads the Bharwads and Rabari communities, extended full support to the resolutions and views aired at the meet. The organizers said a convention of Hindu religious leaders from all over the country is being convened in Gujarat before Deepavali.