The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) announced its plans to form village-level committees purportedly aimed at empowering weaker sections within the Hindu community, particularly those residing in slums across Jammu and Kashmir.
Devji Bhai Rawat, the VHP’s national secretary, outlined the organization’s intentions, asserting that these committees would oversee programs such as skill development training for the upliftment of Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) Hindus living in marginalized areas.
Rawat defended the initiative, stating, “The skill development training is being conducted for uneducated youngsters to enable them to earn a living for their families.” However, the move has drawn criticism for its potential implications and the underlying motives of the VHP in the volatile region.
Despite the VHP’s claim of engaging in social awareness campaigns to ensure justice and respect for weaker sections, questions linger about the organization’s true intentions. Critics argue that the move could be perceived as an attempt to further a particular political or ideological agenda, raising concerns about the potential exploitation of vulnerable communities for political gains.
Rawat highlighted the VHP’s purported efforts to eradicate untouchability among Hindus and announced plans to celebrate the birth anniversaries of social reformers such as Dr. BR Ambedkar, Sant Ravidas, Maharishi Valmiki, Sant Kabir, and Ramanujacharya with the weaker sections.
The VHP’s invitation to Hindus in Jammu and Kashmir to participate in the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22 adds another layer to the organization’s activities.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad, founded in 1964, is an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and is known for its advocacy of Hindutva, a Hindu nationalist ideology. The organization has been involved in various controversial campaigns and movements, and its actions have often been a source of contention within the diverse fabric of Indian society. Critics accuse the VHP of promoting divisive agendas that undermine the secular principles enshrined in the Indian constitution.
