Influx a political conspiracy: VHP

GUWAHATI, April 12: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), president, Ashok Singhal today said unabated infiltration to Northeast region was a part of political conspiracy to change the demographic pattern in the region. Addressing a press conference here, Singhal demanded that the government should immediately defranchise the large number of illegal migrants who have infiltrated the region over the years. He, however, suggested that Hindus coming from Bangladesh should not be treated as illegal migrants but as refugees as they were forced to leave Muslim-domimated Bangladesh for declining to undergo conversion. The VHP president called upon the younger generation of Hindu 'samaj' to gear up to protect themselves against onslaught from Bangladeshi infiltration which is a part of a well conceived conspiracy to demand for creation of Muslim State in the region. According to Singhal infiltration from across the border could be stopped provided both the Centre and the state government of the region showed the will to do so. "The problem in this regard is that certain political parties in the region are keen to create vote base among Bangladeshi migrants." The VHP leader called upon the Government to take stern action against Islamic militancy backed by Pakistani ISI in the name of jehad. He said all the militant outfits who are bent upon disintegrating the country should be disbanded. Islamic militancy had forced six lakh Hindus to leave Kashmir areas where people are being looted and killed in the name of jehad. "The problem has now spread to Northeast region where Reangs, Chakmas and Nepalis are being displaced," Singhal said. When drawn to the reality that Islamic militant outfits like the ULFA were operating in the Northeast with help from the ISI, Singhal said ULFA-ISI relation would not last long as the hardcore Hindu elements in the ULFA would not be able to comply with the diktat of the ISI for a very long time. "ISI's design to create Islamic State in any part of the country would never taste success as our security forces have remained alert about it," he said. Regarding Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid impasse at Ayodhya, the VHP leader said "there was no mosque on the earth after the name of Muslim ruler Babar" and reiterated VHP's commitment to construct Ram Temple at Ayodhya. Singhal said "Ramlila" puja were being offered as per the decision of the court in the demolished portion of the structure in Ayodhya. "The 80 x 40 sq ft structure brought down by kar sevaks on December 6, 1992 had nothing to do with any mosque," he said while giving a call Muslim fraternity to withdraw its claim on places like Ram Janambhoomi, Mathura and Kashi Bishwanath with honour. Regarding sensational Tehelka tapes which had put the credibility of the BJP-led Government at the Centre at stake, the VHP president said the Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was capable of handling such crisis while trying to give clean chit to the Government.