Bengaluru, Feb 9 (TNN): Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) international working president Pravin Togadia defied ban orders by Bengaluru police and came alive when his video-recorded speech was beamed at the Virat Hindu Samajotsava on Sunday evening.
Police struggled to stall the relay, and finally got the technicians to switch off the projector, by which time at least 12 minutes of the speech was broadcast. Bengaluru police had banned Togadia's entry into the city, and the ban was upheld by the Karnataka High Court. Police had also prohibited any video or audio beaming of his speech at the Samajotsava, organized to celebrate the VHP's golden jubilee at National College Grounds.
The drama unfolded after all the pontiffs had completed their speeches and the vote of thanks was delivered, surprising even BJP and RSS leaders present on the dais. There was no clue that Togadia's speech would suddenly be beamed, with only a few in the VHP Karnataka unit entrusted with the task of playing the 20-minute video, made specially for the Bengaluru event. The crowd, which had started leaving the venue, rushed back and cheered all through the speech.
Surprisingly, Togadia's speech was toned down, and focused on the eradication of untouchability. Terming his ban a "dictatorial fascist order", he went on explain the VHP's concept of unity: "The VHP resolves to inculcate among the public the need for one water well, one and the same crematorium for all and entry of all into temples in all villages and towns."
"Every Hindu should get food. For this, every Hindu should keep aside at least one fistful of foodgrains a day, which the family will donate to the poor so no Hindu will stay hungry ever. Every Hindu will put aside Re 1 to Rs 100 daily to help poor children get a proper education. Wealthy families will 'adopt' the education cost of at least 1 to 10 poor kids," he said of the plan for Hindu prosperity.
One specific programme was the 'Hindu Family Friend' campaign, where every Hindu family is to make friends with a Hindu SC/ST family. "These two families will celebrate all occasions together, share meals together and stand by each other in thick and thin," he said.
He also exhorted of making the country a Hindu rastra and announced that Ghar Vaspi programme will continue in full swing. "Uniform civil code should be introduced at any cost," he said.
While the video relay was well-planned and executed, regulars to samvada.org, managed by Vishwa Samvada Kendra - RSS media centre of Karnataka, knew that Togadia would address the crowd at any cost, as the website had claimed on February 6. "Though Bengaluru police banned the entry of VHP chief Dr Pravin Togadia from February 5th for 7 days to enter Bengaluru, Dr Togadia will address 'Hindu Samajotsav' on February 8, 2015, at 4pm..." it said.
When the BJP had sought to know the reason behind the ban on Togadia, the chief minister Siddaramaiah had said that not just Togadia, even Asaduddin Owaisi, president of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen would not be allowed to enter Bengaluru as both indulge in "hate speeches".
Short after the video was screened at the venue, despite the ban, city police commissioner MN Reddi told media that action will be taken against the Praveen Tagodia and the organizers.
Sources said that police are planning to book them under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant. Under the section, if convicted, the accused could be sent to jail for a period of one month.
Reddi, on Saturday had imposed an orderprohibiting Keshav Hegde VHP Organising Secretary and other organisers of the 'Samavesha' from displaying and transmitting any speech of Togadia through audio, visual and any other media at the venue for two days, from 6.00 pm on February 7 to 6.00 pm on February 9, under section 144(3) of CrPC.
No arrests or detentions have been made so far, however, following the transmission of the mission, there was tension between VHP members and cops are the venue of the program.