Call to thwart designs of communal outfits

By Our Staff Correspondent

JAIPUR, SEPT. 30. Speakers in a State-level convention on communal harmony here today called for concerted efforts to thwart the designs of communal outfits active in Rajasthan and denounced the Central Government's ban on SIMI while turning a blind eye to the ``hate campaign'' launched by the Bajrang Dal.

The convention was organised jointly by the State units of CPI, CPI(M), Samajwadi Party, Janata Dal (Secular), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Samajwadi Jankranti Manch. The participants, including those from the areas which had witnessed communal tension recently, feared that the campaigns launched by the Sangh Parivar constituents could lead to escalation of tension across the State.

While the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) has announced its plan to organise a massive congregation and march in the State Capital on October 13, the Bajrang Dal has already launched a Statewide programme of ``Trishul Diksha'' as the first step of the VHP's renewed campaign for construction of Ram temple.

The State unit secretary of CPI, Mr. Tara Singh Siddhu, said the ban on SIMI had thrown up a greater challenge before the secular forces as the decision seemed to have legitimised the acts of terror of the Sangh Parivar outfits. ``The blanket ban on SIMI and an open licence to RSS cannot go together,'' he commented.

While the general secretary of the NCP's State unit, Mr. Sriram Gotewala, called for strengthening of secular forces at all levels to counter the communal onslaught, the CPI(M) MLA, Mr. Amra Ram flayed the Congress(I)-led Government in the State for its failure to put the communal forces under check despite the latter desecrating mosques and shrines in Bhilwara district.

He said the State Government's stance during these incidents was similar to that of the Central Government in 1992 when the Babri Masjid was demolished. ``The Government has not only failed to rebuild the Asind mosque but also acted in a manner that casts doubts about its integrity,'' he said.

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