Ex-Judges Join VHP Meet: Kashi-Mathura, Religious Conversions, Waqf Bill Under Scanner.

Kashi-Mathura dispute, Conversions, Waqf Bill Take Center Stage at VHP Meet Attended by Ex-Judges.

The meeting took place amidst mounting concerns over the vision of a ‘Vikshit Bharat’ (Developed India) and the integrity of the judiciary, as courts deliberate on cases pivotal to Hindutva’s core demands.

Upendra Bharti | HENB | Sept 10, 2024:: On Sunday, a meeting convened by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s legal cell, ‘Vidhi Prakoshth’, brought together a distinguished group of 30 retired Judges from the Supreme Court and various High Courts. The gathering, which was attended by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, reportedly discussed a range of pressing issues, including the ongoing legal disputes surrounding the Varanasi and Mathura temples, the proposed Waqf (Amendment) Bill, and the contentious topic of religious conversions, among other matters of significance, as reported by The Indian Express.

According to Vishwa Hindu Parishad President Alok Kumar, the meeting provided a platform for discussing a range of critical issues affecting society, such as the proposed Waqf Amendment Bill, the return of temples to their rightful owners, the handover of temples currently under government control, and the concerns surrounding religious conversions, among other pertinent topics.

“Vinod Bansal, spokesperson for the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, stated that the meeting also encompassed discussions on nationalism and Hindutva, in addition to deliberations on legislation impacting Hindus and the issue of cow slaughter, as reported by The Indian Express.

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal participated in the meeting, and later shared on his X handle that he had a thorough exchange of ideas on “key areas requiring legal reforms to propel India’s development”, suggesting his commitment to examining and refining the legal landscape to support the nation’s progress.

In recent years, the judiciary in India has grappled with a significant number of cases that have direct implications for the Hindutva movement’s key demands, including matters related to temple control, religious conversions, and cultural heritage, among others, thereby bringing the courts into the midst of contentious ideological debates.

The significance of this development lies in its timing, as several critical ideological issues of the Sangh Parivar are currently being adjudicated in the courts. The ongoing disputes over the Kashi Vishwanath-Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi and the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Masjid Idgah in Mathura are notable examples. According to a senior VHP leader, ‘This inaugural event marks the beginning of a series of interactions aimed at fostering a deeper understanding of our perspectives within the legal community. By engaging in such exchanges, we hope to not only sensitize the legal fraternity to our views but also develop a more nuanced legal understanding to further our agendas through legitimate means, thereby exploring legal pathways to achieve our objectives.’

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__Inputs from The Indian Expresss.