Padma Shri awardee Rabindra Narain Singh elected as VHP president

Singh replaced Vishnu Sadashiv Kokje, who had been serving as the VHP president since his election to the top post in April 2018.

The Vishva Hindu Parishad has elected Rabindra Narain Singh, an orthopaedic surgeon and a Padma Shri awardee, as its new president on Saturday. Singh replaced 82-year-old Vishnu Sadashiv Kokje, who has been in the post since April 2018.

In 2010, Rabindra Narain Singh (right) received Padma Shri for his contribution to the field of medical sciences. (Photo: VHP/Facebook)

"Kokje ji is now 82 years old. He wanted to be relieved of his responsibilities as the VHP president. The election has been conducted as per his wishes and our constitution," VHP's joint general secretary Surendra Jain said at a press conference.

Rabindra Narain Singh was the vice president of VHP. In 2010, he received Padma Shri for his contribution to the field of medical sciences. Elections were also held for the post of the general secretary and Milind Parande, the outfit's current general secretary, was unanimously re-elected, news agency PTI reported.

During the meeting, the outfit discussed the "condition of Hindus" in Haryana's Mewat and issued a statement demanding that the state government must ensure "protection of Hindus" in the Muslim-dominated region.

"It has been a year since his announcement, but nothing has yet been done so far," the VHP leader said while appealing to the Haryana chief minister to act on his promises "to establish rule of law" in Mewat.

The VHP said the Hindu society has started standing up for "self-defence" in Mewat with support from the neighbouring areas.

"As a result, several maha panchayats have been organised there to warn Jihadis. The VHP welcomes this awakening of Hindu society,” the saffron outfit said.