Murders of BJP, RSS workers should not be politicised: Praveen Togadia

BENGALURU: VHP leader Praveen Togadia has said the recent spate of murders of RSS and BJP workers in the South should not be politicised and no outfit which professes violence has the right to function in a democratic set up.

"The murders of RSS and BJP workers should not be politicised. It is not the question of RSS and VHP, but the question of majority community (Hindus). The majority community has the right to live safely just as other communities," he said.

He was replying to reporters' query on several murders of people belonging to BJP and RSS in Karnataka, on the sidelines of an event organised by VHP here last evening.

Asked whether pro-Islamic outfits should be banned, Togadia said: "No outfit which professes violence has the right to function in a democratic set up."

BJP has been pressing for ban on Social Democratic Party of India, Popular Front of India and others, as it suspects their involvement in the murder of several Sangh Parivar and BJP activists in Karnataka in recent months.

On Tipu Jayanti, which the state government celebrated for the second consecutive year to commemorate the 18th century ruler of the erstwhile Mysore kingdom, Togadia said instead of celebrating the anniversary of a 'tyrant ruler', the government should celebrate rulers like Chhatrapati Shivaji and Rana Pratap, who fought for the country.

Protests were held in Mangaluru, Mysuru, Kodagu and other districts, against Tipu Jayanti, who protesters said "was a religious bigot who converted people to Islam and massacred many".