Hindu activists angry over Mulayam's remarks on Draupadi and Sita

Lucknow The Vishwa Hindu Parishad and holy men in Ayodhya are up in arms against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav for his alleged remarks on Draupadi and Sita (Hindu mythological characters).

The holy men have asked the chief minister to tender an unconditional apology for his remarks, failing which they will be compelled to launch an agitation against him from December 20.

The chief minister had said in his speech in Ayodhya that Draupadi was an ideal Indian woman who should be treated as a role model because she had made real sacrifices. He also claimed that Sita had committed suicide. The chief minister had made these remarks while inaugurating the "Ramayana Mela" in the holy city on Tuesday.

The chairman of the Ram Janambhoomi Nyas (Committee), Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, said Mulayam's remarks regarding Sita are highly objectionable.

"If Yadav does not apologise by December 20, we will start an agitation against him."

The VHP leaders are presently in Nepal to participate in a religious celebration and will return to Ayodhya on December 20.

"We will decide the future course of action and also the form of agitation if the chief minister does not apologise by then."

On Thursday, VHP's women's wing staged a demonstration in Ayodhya in protest against Mulayam's remarks and even burnt his effigy.

The women protesters marched from Ramsewakpuram to Badi Chavni where they burnt an effigy and shouted slogans against the chief minister.

Former VHP activist Mahant Ram Vilas Vedanti told reporters that the "Ramayana Mela" committee had invited the chief minister to inaugurate the "mela", or religious fair, hoping that he had changed his hostile policy.

"But we found that he was the same Mulayam of 1990 who had ordered firing on VHP activists. His remarks clearly indicate that he remains anti-Hindu at heart and has no respect whatsoever for Hindu deities", the Mahant said.

The VHP, meanwhile, seems to have found a perfect issue in the chief minister's statement and sees it as a tool to revive Hindu sentiments in Uttar Pradesh.

For the desperate VHP leadership that has completely lost mass support on the Ayodhya issue, this is a golden opportunity to whip up religious passions once again.

- The Asian Age