VHP's hate pamphlets resurface in Gujarat after Narendra Modi's exit

AHMEDABAD: A Gujarati pamphlet recently circulated by the VHP, warning Hindu girls against "seduction" by Muslim youth, pulls no punches and is fairly graphic about what their fate would be, leading to concerns being expressed by minority groups. The right-wing outfit, which had been lying low in the state during Narendra Modi’s tenure as CM, has become active again.

"Crores of rupees are made available to Muslim goons along with training to seduce Hindu girls," it alleged. Muslim religious organisation Jamaat-e-Islami Hind said the ruling BJP’s silence over such hate campaigns was worrisome.

"It is surprising that such pamphlets land in the hands of media but not the police," said Shakeel Ahmed, Gujarat president of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind.

Gujarat FM and government spokesman Nitin Patel and state BJP general secretary Vijay Rupani said he wasn’t aware of the VHP pamphlet. RC Faldu, state BJP president, declined to comment, saying it would be more appropriate for VHP to comment because it printed the pamphlet.

Dilip Trivedi, president of the Gujarat VHP, said the organisation was carrying out a public awareness campaign in this regard because such incidents were happening in an organised manner. "Had inter-religious marriages been isolated incidents, one would not have reacted," he told ET. "We are also holding group meetings to tell people about this and create awareness about the issue," Trivedi said.

It also promised support to parents of such girls. "Keep your daughters away from the vulgar beauty competitions, bring back your daughter home with dignity, get in touch with VHP, Durga Vahini or Bajrang Dal in the time of crisis. Report any such case whether old or new to the VHP office and help the cause," it adds further.

A senior VHP functionary admitted that the tone of the language used in the pamphlet is highly aggressive. "This should not have had happened," he told ET on condition of anonymity.

A senior BJP leader said there was nothing surprising about VHP’s aggressive stance, and put the blame for such hate messages on the state government.

"During Narendrabhai’s regime every time they tried to raise something like this they were dealt with firmly," the person said.