Conjectures, Compensation & Vindication: Art of Living’s WCF vs. NGT’s Flop Show

When Pujya Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji and Art of Living announced World Culture Festival in March 2016, it brought together over 3.75 million people from 155 countries on Yamuna bank in Delhi. It was an unprecedented gathering of global unity, peace, and harmony to celebrate 35 years of humanitarian service.

Yet, almost instantly, a group of obstructionist activists, vested interests, and pliable media outlets launched campaign to smear event and defame Pujya Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji. Armed with unfounded allegations, they claimed that temporary event caused catastrophic environmental damage to Yamuna floodplains.

What followed was saga of regulatory overreach, unscientific claims, and institutional bias, culminating in total vindication when Supreme Court stepped in to uphold justice.

Anatomy of Calculated Smear Campaign

Narrative against World Culture Festival was built not on scientific methodology, but on sensationalism and unsubstantiated claims. Activists and certain media outlets pushed doom and gloom narrative, claiming that floodplains were permanently destroyed.

When National Green Tribunal (NGT) set up (a suspect) Expert Committee to assess site, irregularities became undeniable. Initial claim that event caused 120 crore rupees in irreversible damage was made without any baseline scientific studies, soil testing, or formal measurements.

Chairman of Expert Committee and Water Resources Secretary Shashi Shekhar later admitted in letter to NGT that 120 crore rupees figure was merely tentative and spontaneous suggestion that became elevated to recommendation due to inadvertent mistake. As independent satellite imageries proved that no natural wetlands existed at event site prior to 2016, committee drastically revised damage figures downward from 120 crore rupees to 13.29 crore rupees, changing its stance from permanent destruction to rehabilitation within 10 years.

Despite these glaring contradictions, Art of Living was forced to deposit environmental compensation amount under protest to ensure event proceeded without disruption.

Pictures and Facts Show Real Story

Claims of environmental destruction fell apart when subjected to empirical data. Independent satellite imagery dating from 2000 through 2016 and official Survey of India maps confirmed several critical facts.

Site used for World Culture Festival had no natural wetland or water body to begin with. It was agricultural land and dry plain long before 2016. Art of Living constructed temporary pontoon bridges which were dismantled immediately after event, alongside temporary eco-friendly seating. No paved roads or permanent concrete foundations were laid on floodplains.

Yamuna’s toxic state was result of decades of industrial discharge and untreated sewage. Blaming three day cultural festival for long standing ecological neglect was transparent attempt to scapegoat world renowned spiritual organization. Ironically, Art of Living had already been working actively to clean and rejuvenate rivers across India, including Yamuna itself in 2010 long before these activists took interest in riverbank.

Pattern of Targeted Overreach

Bias was not limited to Delhi event. Similar pattern emerged in Kolkata, where NGT and East Kolkata Wetlands Management Authority arbitrarily ordered demolition of Vaidic Dharma Sansthan Trust’s Temple of Knowledge building without even serving notice to trust.

While hundreds of commercial structures, private projects, and government flyovers were permitted on wetlands, non-profit educational building that strictly complied with all land use and municipal norms was selectively targeted.

Supreme Court Verdict and Final Vindication

Lies or Incompetence Never ages well – NGT exposed

Truth may be delayed, but it cannot be defeated. When matter reached Supreme Court of India, legal edifice built on conjectures, media trial, and flawed committee reports fell apart completely.

Recognizing lack of scientific evidence and procedural unfairness of demands imposed on Art of Living, Supreme Court ordered that deposit made under protest be returned to organization. Supreme Court order served as decisive rejection of narrative spun by vested interests.

It confirmed that allegations of permanent destruction were grounded in speculation rather than scientific truth. Returning money deposited under protest acknowledged that Art of Living was wrongfully penalized, fully restoring honor and integrity of Pujya Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji and Art of Living in eyes of law. Ultimately, noise of conjectures and lies faded, leaving behind enduring truth of Satyameva Jayate.

Detailed Observations of Supreme Court

Supreme Court of India set aside National Green Tribunal order holding Art of Living Foundation responsible for environmental damage on Yamuna floodplain. Top court directed Delhi Development Authority to refund entire five crore deposit given under protest within four weeks. Decision stands as complete vindication for Pujya Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji and millions of volunteers across world. Entire campaign alleging ecological devastation was based on lies, conjectures and selective outrage.

Conjectures and Speculation Exposed

Apex court bench observed that claims of permanent environmental damage lacked solid evidence. Court noted that National Green Tribunal failed to consider existing condition of site which was already littered with construction waste and debris before event setup. Further, no baseline scientific data was gathered to prove net environmental harm caused by three day event. Arbitrary visual estimations were used to demand hefty fines without scientific methodology. Pujya Gurudev always maintained that organisation brought international attention and positive care to river which was neglected for decades.

Refund of Security Deposit

When five crore penalty was imposed in 2016, Art of Living paid sum under protest while reserving right to seek legal remedies. Foundation maintained clean record and refused to accept wrongful guilt. Supreme Court order instructing full refund clears organisation of false allegations and restores truth.

Legacy of World Culture Festival

World Culture Festival brought together over three million participants and thousands of global leaders to promote peace and harmony. Event showcased rich Indian heritage on global stage. Unfair media trials and activist propaganda attempted to tarnish noble work, but ultimate judicial verdict proved that truth always prevails – Satyameva Jayate

Institutional Reality of NGT

This entire saga exposes broader fundamental issue with National Green Tribunal. NGT has reduced itself to redundant administrative entity, operating with minimal accountability while routinely substituting sound scientific rigor with guesswork. Rather than serving authentic environmental conservation, tribunal has largely functioned as post-retirement rehabilitation center for former judges and favored bureaucrats close to establishment. When regulatory forum bypasses basic principles of natural justice, relies on unverified committee estimates, and ignores actual empirical facts, it loses credibility as forum for justice. Whole WCF episode remains stark reminder that institutional overreach built on conjectures will eventually crumble when tested in highest courts of land.

Personal Reflection: Words That Defined Victory

With despair, I still remember the glee with which Rajdeep Sardesai, Zakka Jacob kept posting when it began raining just before the event, little knowing that it was nature washing them off. It did not take long for the nature to present us, the now famous World Culture Festival Rainbow. Meeting that wannabe Vimlendu Jha with handful of so called whole of Delhi protestors. In fact, I offered to hold a placard on his behalf since he had more of it than people.

And wait for a somersault
Now he began sucking up – He remembered the #CNNIBNLies Episode

Post event, after spending entire time inside war room watching the onslaught of media trials and legal battles with despair, I had opportunity to be in discussion with Pujya Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji in Ganga just before Satsang. Having lived through intense stress and emotional turmoil of entire WCF episode, I could not help but get emotional describing everything that had transpired.

Famous WCF Rainbow

Gurudev listened calmly, offering His customary serene smile, warm hug, and gentle pat on back. His words in that heavy moment put everything into perspective:

“Remember, world owes nothing to us, even if we have done most useful and best thing to world. In entire episode, barring a few expected obstructionists, not a single person accused us of any malafides. Consider that itself as victory. Stay strong and don’t get despondent or despair, Rest assured, we will win. Every single paisa paid under protest will be returned to us. Now, get back to work, bring smile on your face and bring it on everyone around you.”

Looking back today, after Supreme Court ordered return of deposit, those words stand as prophecy fulfilled. Beyond legal victory, it was lesson in grace under pressure, unwavering faith, and ultimate triumph of truth. Jai Gurudev.

My Earlier Articles calling NGT bluff

(It is listed in Reverse order of publication)

For those interested in legal summary of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India’s Judgement on 22nd August 2026

The Supreme Court of India set aside the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) 2017 judgment that held Vyakti Vikas Kendra India (Art of Living) liable for environmental damage to the Yamuna floodplains during the 2016 World Culture Festival.

Key Case Details

  • Case: Vyakti Vikas Kendra India v. Manoj Misra (Dead) & Ors. (Civil Appeal No. 683 of 2018)
  • Bench: Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh
  • Date of Judgment: August 22, 2026

Core Findings of the Supreme Court

  • Lack of Causal Link: The Court observed that the NGT failed to establish a direct link between the event organized by the appellant and the alleged environmental degradation.
  • Pre-Existing Damage: Substantial evidence and prior reports established that the Yamuna floodplain was already severely damaged, degraded, and littered with construction debris well before the land was handed over for the event.
  • Flawed NGT Proceedings: The NGT relied heavily on an interim visual inspection and satellite images without properly evaluating counter-evidence. The Court noted that the NGT erroneously treated its interim findings as final, denying the appellant a fair chance to contest them.
  • Restoration vs. Rehabilitation: The NGT exceeded its statutory jurisdiction under Section 15 of the NGT Act by demanding complete “rehabilitation” and forcing the appellant to fund long-term development (such as a Biodiversity Park), rather than limiting its scope to “restoration” to the site’s pre-event condition.
  • No-Fault Liability Misapplied: The Court held that principles like “polluter pays” or “no-fault liability” cannot be applied without proving that real, attributable damage was caused by the party in question.

Final Directions

  • Judicial Relief: The NGT judgment dated December 7, 2017, and all consequential actions against the appellant were set aside.
  • Refund of Deposit: The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) was directed to refund the ₹5 crore environmental compensation deposited by the appellant within four weeks.
  • DDA’s Role: While criticizing the DDA for granting permissions without proper caution, the Court reiterated that the responsibility for overall rehabilitation and ecological maintenance of the Yamuna floodplains remains solely with the DDA as per earlier judicial directions.

Below is the Final Judgement/Order

WE DO KNOW, Sanjay Uvacha!

PC: Gemini

Direct Rebuttal

Defending 2021 trial court acquittal of Tarun Tejpal requires high stakes intellectual gymnastics. Commentary like Sanjay Hegde’s, attempting to sanitize Sessions Court judgment by painting it as rigorous application of reasonable doubt misses fundamental point. Trial court ruling was not masterpiece of judicial caution. It was textbook example of patriarchal bias disguised as legal reasoning. Defending it legitimizes dangerous legal fallacy that woman trauma must mirror outdated cinema script to receive justice.

(Not sharing the link to original article for a reason) But here it is, from the X post that so called Vakeel has shared.

From Sanjay Hegde’s X account

Bombay High Court conviction of Tejpal in August 2026 obliterated deeply flawed regressive premises defending lower court relied upon.

Deconstructing Trial Court Judgment Flawed Legal Foundation

2021 Goa Sessions Court decision received heavy criticism from legal scholars because it rested on debunked stereotypes regarding sexual violence. Lower court misapplied basic principles of evidence and criminal jurisprudence in several critical ways.

Demanding Ideal Victim Narrative

Trial court penalized complainant for not fitting arbitrary image of broken victim. It fixated on fact that she continued duties at event spoke with colleagues and appeared composed or smiling in photographs after incident. Treating composure as proof that no assault occurred ignored complex reality of survival instincts professional obligation and coping mechanisms.

Misinterpreting Physical Resistance and Power Dynamics

Trial judge drew adverse inferences because survivor lacked severe physical injuries implying she should have fought back harder. This completely disregarded sudden freeze response common in traumatic events as well as overwhelming power imbalance between powerful editor in chief and junior employee. In fact he did threaten her reminding her that HE IS THE BOSS!

Permitting Unlawful Character Assassination

Most glaring procedural failure was allowing defense to subject survivor to invasive questioning regarding personal life past relationships and social habits. Indian evidence law under Sections 53A and 146 of Evidence Act strictly prohibits using victim past sexual character or moral views to judge consent or credibility. Trial court allowed statutory guards to be bypassed effectively putting survivor on trial.

Dismissing Direct Written Admissions

Trial court brushed aside Tejpal initial written apology emails labeling them as coerced or describing minor misunderstanding. It created hyper technical barrier to dismiss explicit admissions while holding victim memory to impossibly flawless standard.

How Bombay High Court Corrected Course

Reversing acquittal and sentencing Tejpal to 10 years rigorous imprisonment Bombay High Court described trial court reasoning as perverse and directly contrary to evidence on record.

High Court affirmed that perfect victim is cultural myth. Survivor credibility cannot be judged by whether she breaks down immediately or retreats from public view. High Court held that victim testimony was sterling inspiring total confidence and recognized Tejpal written apologies as clear proof of non consensual acts.

Role of Appeals Designed Check Not Aberration
(Some lesson from a Student to the so called Vakeel)

When High Court overturns trial court acquittal critics frame it as systemic instability. In truth appellate process is deliberately engineered safeguard essential to fair constitutional order.

Accounting for Human and Judicial Error

Trial court judges operate under strict time constraints and are subject to personal societal or cognitive biases. Legal system explicitly anticipates that lower court may misinterpret statutes fall prey to victim blaming assumptions or misread key evidence.

Multi Tiered Review Ensures Systemic Health

Appeal is not failure of legal system. It is proof that built in self correction tools work. Division Benches at High Court level evaluate trial records against constitutional protections and binding Supreme Court precedents filtering out errors made at ground level.

Setting Binding Standards for Future

Higher courts do more than rectify individual case. They establish binding jurisprudence. Striking down perfect victim trope in this appeal Bombay High Court sent clear message to all trial courts across India that victim blaming stereotypes and character assassination have no place in court of law.

Final Takeaway

Tejpal case illustrates why appellate review exists. Without higher forum to reexamine flawed logic trial court judgment built on regressive assumptions would have stood as final law. Appellate structure guarantees that trial courts remain accountable to Constitution ensuring justice is rooted in hard evidence rather than societal prejudice.

This video provides clear concise breakdown of High Court reversal highlighting how court rejected trial court normative behavior argument and held Tejpal accountable based on record. (Though I don’t like to share anything from The Print, credit where due – this video has broken down the judgement well

Legal Apologia

He writes

Framing case as mere conflict of two stories represents complete legal dud. Calling on public to say “we do not know deliberately ignores most damning evidence on record written admissions made by accused immediately following incident. Claiming ignorance when written confessions exist is not judicial humility. It is selective blindness designed to erase concrete evidence. These kind of agenda driven opinions under the guise of Legal commentary, performs grave disservice to justice.

“We know”, the whole world knows except those who chose to say “we do not know”, and man, “We know” why “you don’t know”.

Articles pushing this commentary rely on faulty legal premises misapply statutory protections on consent and ignore binding appellate precedents. By substituting sound constitutional analysis with sophisticated victim blaming commentary fails both on legal merit and moral integrity. When prominent legal voices trivialize survivor trauma or validate victim blaming stereotypes they reinforce systemic barriers victims face in courtrooms. High Court verdict stands as decisive rejection of such regressive commentary proving that legal analysis must never become shield for victim blaming logic.

On your Face, Sanjay
PC: Gemini

Babri Masjid Demolition & Aftermath – Subramanian Swamy in Madina House

This is the speech he, who masquerades as Virat Hindu Champion and he, who claims he has been backed totally by RSS and VHP and he, who became a Rajya Sabha member courtesy of BJP, bad mouthed all the three organisations – living up to his image. He even had a section on Late Ashok Singhal (whose so called Proximity, he is milking to promote himself) – calls the section, Barkings of Ashok Singhal.

A speech he delivered on 13th March 1993 in Madina House, Hyderabad, the content of which was used verbatim, to create a booklet and circulate amongst the community and so called Liberals.

For those who are interested in the Text version of this document (courtesy: CBKWGL website). Reproduced as is where is (except the Red Highlights which is added by me)

Demolition of Babri Masjid and Aftermath – Speech by Subramanian Swamy, March 13, Madina Education Centre, Hyderabad

I really hope this is a dead and dusted thing.

Why they talk about Ayodhya? Why don’t they talk about the most Holy and Important Tirthas of Kailash and Man Sarover?

Madina Education Centre in Hyderabad, run by Madina Education and Welfare Society, is silently and sincerely waging a relentless war against the evil forces of communal fanatics bent upon destroying the national fabric of Indian Society by creating chaos, disharmony and distrust among the people to build their theocratic empire over the Pyramids of human skulls. Many top intellectuals of all hues, except, those belonging to the outfit of merchants of hate and disharmony, from different corners of the country were invited to speak and spread the message of emotional integration and communal unity which was the high water mark of Indian history till yesterday and which is sought to be erased by the RSS and its misguided stooges from the face of Hind Mata.

The one among a few intellectuals of the country Dr. Subramanyam Swamy, the Janata Party Supremo and former Law Minister in Chandra Shekar’s government at the centre, was invited to speak on “Demolition of Babri Masjid and Aftermath”. On March 13, at 10-30 A.M. the meeting was held in the vast well furnished and well equipped Sir Syed Hall at the Madina Education Centre’s multi storied prestigious building at Public Garden Road, Hyderabad. Yet another top Intellectual of the Indian nation Dr. Syed Hashim Ali Akhtar, former Vice Chancellor of Osmania and Aligarh Universities was in the chair. The tape-recorded speech of Dr. Subramanyam Swamy had appeared in the April, 4-11,1993 issue of “The Anti-Corruption Weekly” and the same is being reproduced in this booklet, with the permission and courtesy of the weekly Magazine.

– The Publishers

Mr. President and friends

I have been requested to speak in English and I will speak for half an hour or less and then I would like questions from you. They can be asked freely and frankly and either in Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, English or in Chinese and also in Telugu. My son-in-law is a Telugu, so I am beginning to learn Telugu, may be by next visit I will be able to speak in Telugu also. I would like to learn all 16 languages.

Dec. 6 a turning point in Indian history

The topic given to me is Babri Masjid Demolition and its aftermath. In fact December 6 will be taken as a turning point in Indian history. If we take a right turn, the correct turn, this country will become strong and a great power in the world. If we take the wrong turn it will be doomed. Then came such an occasion in our history in the past. For example the Mahabharat War was one such decisive turn in our history and in many ways what is happening today is very similar to what happened in the Mahabharat War. In fact I was telling the honourable President, that many of the people who are engaging in the criminal acts today are the people with whom I and many of my colleagues have worked together during emergency. In fact many people ask me, “20 years ago you worked with these people, today you are criticising them. What is the justification of that?” That same question Arjuna asks Sri Krishna also, “How can I fight Dronacharya, Bhishmacharya, and all these people with whom I worked”? In fact Dronacharya was his teacher. So Krishna said “You are not with individuals, you are on the side of Dharma, if you honestly think Dharma is on the other side, then you go to the other side. If you think they are the Adharmic forces, then it is your responsibility to kill them” and that is what he did.

Idea behind the madness

Today, irrespective of whether we are Hindus or Muslims we have to fight these forces in the most resolute way and uproot them from the body politic of India. I was happy to see Narasimha Rao the Prime Minister of India, talks for the first time, that legislation should be brought to see that political parties do not harvest religious fanaticism. That will be only one step, but the most important step should be, that first we should understand the idea behind the madness that has taken place in the country.

What is RSS ?

The Rashtriya Sevak Sangh is the core of this madness. BJP is the front organisation of the RSS. To a point all understand this. We should all keep this in mind, when A.B. Vajpayee and Advani talk about negotiations, or when Prime Minister wants to negotiate with them. I say it is useless, because these people are players in the hands of the RSS, which controls them. They may appear different, one may appear more moderate than the other but ultimately they all take orders from the RSS. Whether it is BJP, the Vidyarthi Parishad, the Hindu Munnani, Viswa Hindu Parishad or any of these organisations. The RSS ideology or its ideological thrust must be understood if we have to combat it. After the Babri Masjid demolition, the first thing we must do, is to disabuse the minds of the people, that RSS stands for Hindus.

It is not Pro-Hindu ; It is purely anti-Muslim

It is not a pro-Hindu organisation, it is an anti-Muslim organisation They may use Hindu slogans, but their thrust and direction is against Muslims. Every single programme of RSS, Viswa Hindu Parishad, Bajarang Dal or other RSS front organisations is purely anti-Muslim, in content. They will talk about Ayodhya, but why don’t they talk about Kailash Manasasarovar. The most Holy and shall I say most important Tirthas for Hindus is Kailash-Man Sarovar and it is in the possession of Chinese today. In fact even Thirtha Yatrees or pilgrims could not visit Kailash Manasa Sarovar till 1981. I took up the issue in 1978 with the Chinese For three years I negotiated with them with the encouragement of two Prime Ministers Moraiji Desai and later Indira Gandhi despite her political differences with me. I was able to persuade the Chinese to reopen the door of Kailash Manasa Sarovar since 1981 when I became first thirtha yatree to Kailash Manasa Sarovar.

Why not any RSS, BJP VHP leader visited Kailash, Manasasarover yet ?

Every year 200 Indians or Hindus have gone to Manasa Sarovar walking up about 110 kms and coming back. But not one BJP leader, one RSS leader or Viswa Hindu Parishad leader has yet visited Kailash Manasa Sarovar. Thay have not raised the issue that the Chinese should return Kailash Manasa Sarovar to India. It is a place where lord Shiva and his wife Parvathi lived, that is the place towards which the Pandavas ultimately proceeded and only Yudhistar and a dog reached Kailash Manasa Sarovar, everybody else died on the way.

Why Hindus raise the issue of Kashmir ?

Jawaharlal Nehru in one of his books has asked, “Why the Hindus raise the issue of Kashmir and not of other states”? Why? because there are no Muslims in Kailasa Manasa Sarovar, so they are not interested. Take this article 370 of the constitution, which they say is objectionable and ask whether Hindus are outsiders. The Hindus out side the state can not buy the land in Kashmir. This they can not, tolerate. This one country, but why don’t they talk about article 371A, 371B, 371C and so many articles and subsections of article 371 whicth say that in lowspity area of Himachal Pradesh the outsiders cannot buy land. In Mizoram outsiders cannot buy land. In Arunachal you can not buy land, there are so many states where you can’t buy land. Even to some limited extent, there are restrictions in the Telangana area of A.P. But they never raise it, why don’t they talk about Himachal why they don’t take about Arunachal. If they were to say article 370 and 371 should go I can merit in the argument. But they will talk about 370, because 370 means something harmful will happen to the Muslims, that you will go to Kashmir where in the valleys there are Muslims, 371 means, Himachal, where there are no Muslims so they are not interested. Every single plank of RSS ideology is anti-Muslim. There is nothing pro-Hindu about it.

Why population growth of Muslims is more ?

They talk of uniform civil code, how could the Hindu lives will improve, if Muslims cannot marry more than one? Of course we know from census that more percentage of Hindus marry more than one. Then Muslims, in fact anybody who married more than one is not of right mind. There are so many Indian political leaders who have more than one wife, I have not seen BJP object to them. Ram Vilas Pas wan has 3 wives, Karunanidhi had got 5 wives. Ram Jetmalani the Vice-President of BJP has 2 wives why not speak about them. I want to know if one Muslim man marries more than once, how can the Hindus get effected or Muslims themselves? 50% of the Muslim population are women and the other half are men, if one marries more than once, it means depriving another man of a wife. The people who should object are Muslims.

But they see the population growth of Muslims is more than Hindus. Not very much more than Hindus but a little more. What is the reason, the population growth rate of Kerala Muslims is less than those of the Uttar Pradesh Hindus? What is the reason that the Tamil Muslims have a population growth rate less than that of Bihari Hindus? What is the reason that rich Muslims have lower population growth rate than poor Muslims. What is the reason why rich Hindus have a lower population growth rate than poor Hindus?

How can Muslims become the majority within the next 25 years ?

Why Hindus collectively have lower rate of growth than Muslims? The per capita income of Hindus is higher than the per capita income of Muslims. If you bring the per capita income of Muslims on the same level as of Hindus, the difference in growth could disappear. This is Scientific Analysis. But there is no place for scientific analysis. It is all emotion. Somebody tells me the other day, one BJP leader speaking in an election meeting said, that 25 years after now Muslims will become majority in this country at this rate of growth. I had a pocket calculator, I calculated and said the rate of growth worked out the exponential curve, now tell me how it is possible? In 25 years the share of Muslims population will rise from 12.06% to 12.46%. How is it a majority? How is 12.46% majority?

Scrap concept of Hindu un-divided family

Why should Muslims have separate laws? Do not Hindus have separate laws for them? Undivided family is given tax privileges, which Muslims do not get. As Law Minister I had made the bill that the concept of Hindu un-divided family must be scraped. The biggest opposition came from the BJP wallas because most of them are from this trading community, they get the maximum tax exemption. Are not Hindus getting more tax advantages than Muslims? I am saying this to tell you the way to combat the RSS poisonous propaganda. Yes, why not one do counter this propaganda? Of course, there are strong methods we have to use where necessary. But this propaganda must also be done and that is why groups like yours are important. Because these simple ideas that RSS planting is taking root because there is no challenge to these ideas, there is no one to confront them.

I am ready to challenge RSS

I am ready any time you call, any leader from BJP with my similar kind of background who has been either a minister or is an All India president or something and I am ready to debate. I will massacre him in the debate not physically but intellectually and logically in front of you. They never engage in a debate with me. They never, even clash with me, in parliament very much, because they know, I am aware of all the arguments. So when I talk about the aftermath, I am talking about propaganda war. There the battle has been lost. The war is not lost. We still have the time to win the war. But the battle on propaganda, BJP has gone ahead because they have managed to penetrate the Home minsitry. They have managed to penetrate the Doordarshan. They have managed to penetrate the Newspapers and slanted news is always appearing from their side and it is not being countered from our side. Therefore educated people must get together to meet this propaganda challenge.

Why was not Babri Masjid issue raised before 1985 ?

Now take this Babri Masjid issue itself, when did the BJP first raise it, BJP was born in 1980. They say it is a reincarnation of Jansangh, Jansangh was a reincarnation of Hindu Maha Sabha. Now when did Hindu Maha Sabha raise this issue? Never. When did the Jansangh raise Masjid issue? Never They were in power in Uttar Pradesh in 1967, the Deputy Chief Minister was a Janasangh man called Ram Prakash Gupta, the Home minister at that time was also Janasangh-RSS man. They were in power for 2 1/2 years in U P in 1967. Tell me one occasion when they raised it, they did not raise it In 1977 it was a Janata Party of which I am president, although the party has become extremely small because of splits and so on. I am hoping to revive it with the help of new generation. But the Minister of UP, the Minister of Delhi; had they raised the question of Babri Masjid? No. They first raised it in 1985.

How is it known Rama was born there?

In 1985 they raised it because, in 1984 elections they got only 2 seats and they thought this is the only way to get the seats That is the first time they raised the issue. And what is the issue they raised? Because Rama was born here, therefore Babri Masjid must go, how did you know Rama was born here. There is no proof, that Rama was born there.

Babri Masjid dispute: Creation of thieves

Some people in 1949, in the dark of night, climbed the gate of masjid went in and kept some murtis there. That is not the way Rama is supposed to be born. By stealth Babri Masjid dispute was created by thieves, who climbed the gate in the night over there who went to plant murtees there. Then the dispute was created.

The secular forces are on the defensive. They would say Hindus but are ashamed to say so, Garv se bolo Hindu” I have also seen a lot of people to get defensive. They have not bothered to tell me, because then I would have turned around and say many of our leaders drink Alchohol after 6P.M. in the night. Is it a good Hindu sign? Rama was after all Maryada Purushottam, so they couldn’t argue with me because they become uncomfortable. I used to say, you are not pro-Hindu but you are anti-Muslim. If you want to be pro-Hindu then fight against casteism. Everybody should consider themselves Hindu only, not Rajput, Brahmin, Thakur etc., then you are campaigning for Hindus. Campaign against dowry system, campaign against untouchability for strengthening Hindu society, this is what I mean by renaissance.

Have they campaigned? Do you know of any campaign of RSS and it’s front organisations against dowry? No. Or Sati, No. On the contrary Gwalior Rajmata says “I would have commited sati, but I had two small children so I could not do so”. So they have justified Sati. Bhairav Singh Shekawat went and attended Sati functions in Rajasthan. So they are not for Hindu reform and for strengthening of Hindu society. Today if all Hindu’s say that they are no more concerned to which caste they belonged to and they are only a Hindu first and last, Hindu society will become very strong. But they won’t talk about that.

This is an outcome of British old imperialist approach. They are only anti-Muslim. If you want to be Hindu there is nothing wrong in being a good Hindu, but campaign for Hindu renaissance, campaign for strengthening the Hindu society.

Anti-Sikh, Anti-Buddhist stance

The Sikhs were born to defend Hindus and they defended Hindus, their gurus died for Hindus. But the RSS and BJP in Punjab, took an anti-Sikh attitude. The RSS and BJP is taking an anti-Buddhist attitude in Gaya. Their whole thesis and foundation is based on hate and hate is what they propagating, so don’t miss this one important point. Why am I labouring on this point? It is because propaganda victory is absolutely an essential point.

They are facists ; they are cowards

Yes, if you use strength, you can bring them to book, because I know the basics. The basic character of fascist is that he is basically a coward. I can give you an instance before I get deeper into Babri issue, I do feel that the Prime Minister did not show necessary firmness for preventing the incident of December 6th. I have a good opinion of Prime Minister. I am one of the people helping him to stay in power. Because many out of 20 Janata Dal M.P.s who came out of Janata Dal and former Janata Dal(A) Group are largely subject to my influence. I can influence most of them to go the way I would like them to go about and they are today supporting the government. Narsimha Rao is a good man, but goodness is not enough. Toughness, where toughness is necessary must be shown.

This is the way to rule the country When I became law Minister along with commerce portfolio, the Prime Minister was Chandra Sekhar. Within three days of taking over of office RSS announced Kar Seva for 9th December, 1990 and they said they will go ahead and do Kar Seva. We just become the government and we were confronted with this. What do we do? A meeting of the cabinet committee of political affairs was called. We took the decision on my urging, that RSS insists on Kar Seva, then one week before the kar Seva all top leaders of BJP, Bajrangdal, Viswa Hindu Parishad should be arrested under National Security Act and sent to Laksha Dweep and Andaman for some time, and this decision was to be communicated them. Mr. Chandra Sekhar the Prime Minister, communicated this to Mr. Singhal of Viswa Hindu Parishad at the residence of Raj Matha. He went there and asked this Kar Seva be called of as otherwise they will be arrested under the National Security Act. Singhal said, “there is the Hindu wave in the country, you will have to shoot Sadhus”. Chandra Sekhar said, “I am prepared to shoot all the Sadhus because the Sadhus’ Karthavya and duty is to go to heaven and I will make it faster for them. With in 3 days of our telling them, that they will be locked-up under the National Security Act, if they do the Kar Seva then kept silent. Seven months we were in office, they never raised Babri Masjid issue even once.

Why negotiate on Masjid with them ?

So therefore it was wrong strategy on part of P.V. Narasimha Rao to negotiate with them. There is nothing to negotiate on Babri Masjid. It is there, how the dispute is to be resolved? During the time we were in the government, Muslim leaders and leader of, Babri Masid Action Commitee came. All these people came and said there is a gesture, if it can be demonstrated by the archeological evidence and upheld by a Supreme Court Judge in the commission of enquiry hearing that there was a temple which was demolished and a masjid is built on top of it then it is against the Quran to recite Namaz there and therefore we willingly give up the Masjid. But we first must have proof otherwise, because in secular India everybody has the right to preach religion, the masjid will remain there. What about the murtees inside there? We send army and have it cleared out.

In any case, may I tell you that according to Sastras, Agama Sastras, which lay down the rules or laws how a temple is to be built, and this applies now to the so called structure Ram Lalla Mandir, for which there is agitation, it is an illegal structure. It is immoral structure. It should be demolished immediately. Why because, it is against Hindu Dharma to have a Rama Lalla Mandir built where it was done. Agama Sastras say you can build a temple, only after you fast for forty one days. After that who ever fasted for forty one days they will do Prana Pratista ceremony and then only the idols will have to be installed and, it will be a mandir otherwise it is pap (sin).

Ram Lalla temple is against Hindu Dharma

Advani and Uma Bharathi & Company didn’t fast 41 days before they went to Ayodhya that day. On the 6th December, in fact they were eating rasgollas and samosas and all, I have seen video of that, they were not fasting, they didn’t do Pranapratista ceremony there. That Ram lalla mandir, is not Ram lalla mandir. That murti they have put there, doesn’t deserve to be worshipped, it is an illegal and immoral structure. I would urge Narsimha Rao government that in the interest of secularism the structure should be demolished completely because it is against Hindu Dharma, to have that as a temple. Then you appoint a commission of enquiry and determine whether a temple was there or not. I am not in favour of a masjid being built on that spot right away, because we want a permanent solution and permanent solution can only be, if as the Muslim leaders originally said, that if it can be shown that the mandir was there before and a masjid built on top of it, then we don’t want a masjid. If there was no temple there, before, an existing temple, a functioning temple, a working temple, then you can built a masjid there. On that basis the solution can be derived.

Murthi doesn’t deserve to be worshiped

Krishna Mandir, and God knows how many mandirs they demolished, they could do it and they could collect crores of rupees for it, so I am saying first of all that on the Babri Masjid issue, they are committing sin by going and doing pooja in the temple. It is against our Shastras, because they don’t know, if we explain them, they will stop going, they will not go. This must be done through the Doordarshan, what is the use of government owning Dooradarshan, if it doesn’t do this propaganda.

It is built on sin

So first of all I would say that today in aftermath in order to revive the confidence of the country and to effect the Hindu-Muslim unity, the Ram lalla mandir must be demolished, because it is not a mandir. it is built on sin. it is built on treachery. It is built on deceit, it is not built according to Agama Sastras. But where should be the temple-or masiid be built? It should be decided after the committee enquires.

Tamil Nadu : Hideout of RSS, VHP criminals

The other aspect today is that there is pernicious propaganda in the country that Muslims are second class citizens, what I started with, I have with me, brought with me a tape of the speech given by Mr. Ashok Singhal on 21st of February, in Madras. Today Tamil Nadu is a great sanctuary for all the wanted criminals of Viswa Hindu Parishad and RSS, they are all hiding there. They are in fact not hiding there, but are moving openly giving speeches.

Barkings of Ashok Singhal

On 21 st Feb. Ashok Singal addressed a rally in Madras city, I got the tape with me. I produced the tape in the Parliament. The BJP fellows didn’t want me to play it, in fact they were making technical objections, why I should not display the tape? What did he say in that? He says three things. Number one that Mahatma Gandhi only spoke what British wanted him to speak, in other words Mahatma Gandhi was stooge of the British. Two. it is an insult to the nation to call him Father of the Nation, it is also idea of the British to say that India is a new country, if it was new country Mahatma Gandhi was given the title of Father Not by the people of India, but by the British This is what Singhal says and thinks. He says, that if the Muslims do not accept that Rama, Lakshmana and Krishna as their fathers they should be deprived of the right to vote in the General Elections. I can give this tape to you any time you want

Now what is this, this is total preaching against constitution of India. This has to be effectively met, they have vulgarised the name Hindu, like Hitler, in the name of Nationalism, vulgarised the meaning of Nationalism, so we have to reply to this propaganda.

In what way the Muslims are second class citizens? If you preach what you want, then they have equal right to be Muslims. They have the right to be good Muslims. Does it say in Hinduism, that you have no right to preach other religions except your own religion? It does not matter what the Muslims are doing to their minorities in Saudi Arabia. Even in Pakistan or any where. We are not going to imitate them. Our society is different. It came out of the freedom movement. It came out of a joint struggle of Hindus and Muslims. It is true that some Muslims did not want to be part of India, but didn’t some Hindus want the Muslims to be a part of India.

Who raised the question of Pakistan First ?

Who raised the question of Pakistan first in Indian Context? The first time the demand for Pakistan was made by Veer Savarkar in 1923 in the Assembly of Hindu Maha Sabha. He said “we cannot leave Muslims to create another country and can not give it to them, partition the India and give it to them”. This was echoed later by Madan Mohan Malavya. In 1940, the Muslim League adopted this, called it Pakisthan. In 1942, Rajagopalacharya supported it, and 1947 the Congress Working Committee adopted it.

Look at the role of RSS in 1942
(for some reason this paragraph was nor reproduced on CBKWGL site)

Look at the role of RSS in 1942 It is not a Hindu-Muslim question, some Hindus and some Muslims wanted Pakistan. This propaganda should be met. It is not being met. It is not being met in our text books It is not being met in our press. In fact I can produce documents to show that in 1942 RSS collaborated with British.