VHP slams commission’s plan to set up helpline for minorities

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has countered the National Commission for Minorities helpline initiative questioning whether only Muslims were victims of communal violence.

Hardline hindutva outfit, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), has objected to a proposal by the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) to start a helpline for minorities in distress.

The NCM had decided to expedite the process of setting up a helpline which could be used by minorities to register complaints against atrocities and communal violence. (HT File Photo)

At its meeting earlier this month, chaired by the newly appointed chairperson Syed Ghayorul Hasn Rizvi, the NCM had decided to expedite the process of setting up the helpline, which could be used by minorities to register complaints against atrocities and communal violence.

The RSS-affiliate has however slammed the decision and dubbed it as one that will "foster separatism".

Surendra Jain, the joint general secretary of the VHP said the NCM's move will strengthen the feelings of separatism in the Muslim community and demanded the setting up of a “majority commission”.

The VHP leader said the NCM must answer whether only Muslims in the country are victims of communal violence.

The NCM chief could not be reached for his comment.

In June last year, the hardline outfit demanded an inquiry into the alleged exodus of Hindus from Uttar Pradesh’s Kairana, which they claim has been precipitated by strain between communities. It had blamed the Samajwadi Party, then in power, for “appeasing” the minorities and failing to take action on complaints registered by the Hindus in the area.

“The events unfolding in the world prove that the rights that the Muslims in Bharat enjoy cannot be matched by even the Muslims of the Islamic states. Despite this, the jihadi elements foment enmity by creating dissatisfaction among the Muslims. The Minority Commission too is only fomenting the same feelings of dissatisfaction by its work thereby strengthening minoritism and separatism,” he said.

The VHP, which was at the forefront of the Ayodhya movement, also wants the government to impose a complete ban on cow slaughter and beef consumption. Its demands come in the backdrop of an increase in the number of cases of so-called cow vigilantes thrashing and lynching people, suspected to have slaughtered cows or ferried beef.