This morning Mr.Pravin Togadia became the acting head of the VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad)

The VHP has been best known for being one of the contributory causes of sectarian politics in India. The other are terrorists in the name of Islam, and of course the Government’s consistent mismanagement and it’s creation and backing of caste, community etal, vote banks.

The VHP’s claim to fame has been one issue. The creation of a temple at Ayodhya – the fabled birth place of Lord Ram – one of the avtaar’s of the Lord Vishnu – and a key icon in the Hindu pantheon of Gods and Godesses. The Moghul Emperor Barbar is supposed to have torn down the temple and constructed a mosque.

The VHP backed by key BJP leaders – like Advani and Joshi – allegedly incited a crowd to pull down the mosque. I remember scenes of Sadhvi Rithambara standing in orange robes shrieking – ek do, masjid tod do. Needless to say, the post demolition days saws Hindu Muslim riots across India.

The VHP in 1992 went against a court ruling that said that until the Judiciary ruled on the outcome of the dispute, the mosque will stand. However, the gates will be sealed. no worship could happen there. The VHP here held the entire judiciary in contemp.

Also, by going against the state government and the central government it showed contempt for the legislature.

Just last week the VHP put out a statement that said that they wanted to wipe out “secularism” and make India a Hindu state. The last time I checked the Constitution of India, the preamble still said:

We, the people of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic and to secure to all its citizens :

JUSTICE, social, economic and political;
LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;
EQUALITY of status and of opportunity;
and to promote among them all
FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation;
In our consituent assembly this twenty-sixth day of November, 1949, do hereby adopt, enact and give to ourselves this constitution.

So contempt of the Constitution as well. What the VHP has constitently and constantly done is to show contempt for every organ of the Indian state. I don’t know if this constitutes treason from a legal perspective – but i guess that it does from a moral perspective. If you take away the organs of the state – you in effect disembower your country.