VHP to approach corporates over workplace issues regarding Hindu women, says senior leader
Hassan (Karnataka) (PTI): The VHP will approach corporate and industry bodies across the country to ensure that Hindu women are not "targeted or victimised" at workplaces, a senior leader of the organisation said on Tuesday.
Addressing a press conference here, VHP Organising General Secretary Milind Parande said the Hindu organisation will meet national associations of various industries and raise concerns over alleged incidents involving "love jihad" and forced conversions in workplaces. The term "love jihad" is used by right-wing groups to allege a conspiracy by Muslim men to lure Hindu women into relationships and marriage to convert them to Islam.
"The VHP will systematically meet national associations of various industries across the country. We will ensure that in any workplace--not just IT but all industries--Hindu women are not targeted or victimised," he said.
Raising concerns over alleged targeting of Hindu women in workplaces, Parande said, "Hindu society is being targeted and is facing distress. Such tendencies are not acceptable in any civilised society." He also urged introspection within the Muslim community.
"The entire community should consider what values are being imparted to its younger generation. Such tendencies are not acceptable in any civilised society," he said.
Parande said that rising incidents could lead to the entire Muslim community coming under suspicion.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader's remarks come in the wake of the alleged harassment and religious coercion at the Nashik unit of IT Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).
He said his ongoing visit to Karnataka was part of a nationwide organisational tour aimed at expansion.
The aim is to expand the organisational reach. "During this visit, certain issues in Karnataka have come to our attention," he said.
He also flagged cattle smuggling as a major concern, alleging that large-scale transportation of cattle was taking place from Karnataka towards neighbouring states.
"Although the cow protection law was passed here in 2020, it is not being implemented strictly," he alleged, demanding identification of smuggling routes and action against vehicle owners and drivers involved.
"We demand that the routes used for smuggling be identified. Such vehicles should be confiscated if the offender is a repeat offender. This is a matter that needs serious attention," he said.
He alleged that there appears to be a biased and discriminatory attitude against pro-Hindu activists. This gives the impression of an anti-Hindu approach.
He called for stricter enforcement of laws.
"The law must be implemented strictly, that is our demand. Who else will enforce it if not the government," he said, adding that VHP workers act within the legal framework.
Responding to a question on attacks on cow protection activists, Parande said, "There must be a balanced discussion. First, why is the transportation happening? Who will talk about that? Thousands of times, laws are being violated and cattle are being slaughtered. Otherwise, anger in Hindu society will naturally rise," he added.
Parande urged the administration to identify routes and curb smuggling.
He said the VHP will do whatever is necessary. It is ready to face hardships, even imprisonment if necessary.
Touching upon the Women's Reservation Bill, he said, "This is not the failure of the central government but of the opposition," adding that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP were capable of responding to criticism.
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ED searches: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah accuses Centre of targeting Cong leaders
Chamarajanagara (Karnataka) (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday accused the central government and its agencies of consistently targeting Congress members by using searches on their properties, and questioned why similar action is not taken against BJP leaders.
He was reacting to searches conducted by the Enforcement Directorate on Monday on several individuals, among them the sons of Karnataka Congress MLA N A Haris and the grandson of former Union Cabinet minister K Rahman Khan, in connection with a cryptocurrency-linked money laundering case.
"The central government always targets Congress leaders. Will they raid the houses of BJP leaders?" Siddaramaiah said in response to a question. More than a dozen premises in the city were searched as part of the operation carried out by the ED under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The premises searched comprised those of Mohammed Haris Nalapad and Omar Farook Nalapad, the sons of the MLA; Aqeeb Khan, the grandson of veteran Congress leader K Rahman Khan; and an alleged crypto hacker, Srikrishna Ramesh, alias Sriki, officials said.
The money laundering case stems from Karnataka Police FIRs and charge sheets filed in a 2017 case involving the hacking of national and international websites, theft of bitcoins, and the sale of these stolen virtual digital assets (VDAs) through crypto platforms by the alleged hacker Sriki and his associates.
Mohammed Haris Nalapad, Omar Farook Nalapad, and Aqeeb Khan are alleged to be beneficiaries of the proceeds of crime generated through this crypto-linked activity, officials added.
