VHP Leader Alleges Increase in Attacks on Hindu Festivals Over the Past Two Decades

The VHP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal on Monday claimed a steady rise in attacks on Hindu festivals over the years and said that in the last two decades, there have been umpteen incidents where they have been targeted, attacked and pelted with stones.

Talking to IANS, Vinod Bansal said, "All the festivals, celebrations or processions of the Hindu community seem to be the target of Jihadi terrorism these days. I don't understand what has happened to them. The way their attacks have increased in the last few decades has forced the Hindu community once again to think about whether they need to make some arrangements for their own self-defence."

"The way these people attack shows their pre-planned plot. Whenever procession passes through Muslim-dominated areas, it comes under attack. Bahraich is not a one-off incident. Such assaults have been happening over the years," he added.

VHP spokesman also claimed that such incidents are increasing day-by-day in many parts of the country.

These kinds of community conflicts are going on in various districts of Uttar Pradesh. The same thing is happening in Jharkhand and West Bengal. It doesn't matter whether it is Durga Puja or Ramnavami, Hanuman Jayanti, Valmiki Jayanti, or even our Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Jayanti or any Vijayadashmi, they target everything," he asserted.
He further said that this is a matter pertaining to the Hindu society.

"I think the Hindu community has to prepare themselves to face all such things. But we do not want such things to happen. They should not do such a thing for the benefit," he said, adding further.
"We don't believe in such things. But if they continue to hold such communal clashes in the future, then the Hindu community has to think about it," he concluded.

The tensions worsened after Ram Gopal Mishra, a Rehua Mansoor village native who was walking with the group, was shot near Mahrajganj Bazar of Mansoor village. "He was taken to a hospital where he died during treatment," said one of his family members. He was shot over playing of music during a procession.

Apart from Mishra, about a dozen people were injured in the violence. Days after the incident, several Hindu organisations went to the streets demanding severe action.