Mangaluru: “Love Jihad” has been a contentious issue in our society and often there have been instances of moral policing resorted to by members of right-wing organisations when they sight a girl in the company of youth from the other community. While the allegations surrounding the Love Jihad issue are of a serious nature, the moral policing, which does not come under the purview of our law, has often been condemned by the society in general.
To tackle this very issue, Rajashekharananda Swamiji of Vajradehi Matt had sometime back announced the formation of a special task force to identify and counsel any such person who they suspect can become victims of Love Jihad.
In an interview to Newskarnataka, the seer, who has been very vocal with his support for the right wing organisations stated that the task force would come into existence by February.
Below are the excerpts from the interview.
NK: What are the aims and objectives of your “task force”?
Swamiji: The major aim of the “Hindu Task Force” is to protect the Hindu culture in our society and to teach “Sanskara” and “Samskrithi” to the present generation. Since Love Jihad essentially involves luring young vulnerable girls to love, marry and later convert to Islam, one of the focus of this force would be to identify and offer counselling to any such girl, who we suspect is being targeted with the involvement of her parents. This force will not only also address the problems of girls who have fallen prey to Love Jihad but more importantly, being a registered entity, everything will be done within the purview of law of the land.
NK: When will the force be launched and what is the nature of this organisation?
Swamiji: The “Task Force” will be launched by February. A national committee headed by me and with Dr. Ramachari as a general secretary, has been formed already. The organisation will function throughout the nation and for this purpose a Task Force Committee will be formed at state, district, taluk and village levels.
The national committee would comprise of 22 members which includes doctors, psychiatrists, legal experts, legal advisers, social workers, IT experts as well as college students.
When the formation of a task force was initially announced, we had received around 20 cases of Love Jihad. We have already solved eight cases without any problem and are confident of solving the pending cases too.
NK: Can you brief about the Counselling Centre in the Task Force?
Swamiji: Offering moral support to a victim is very essential and hence once they are freed from the clutches of “Love Jihad”, they will be offered counselling at the centre by psychiatrists and psychologists, who will help them build their self-esteem and guide them to a better future.
NK: What are the programmes that the Task Force has planned?
Swamiji: The Task Force plans to hold programmes to propagate the Hindu culture among Hindus. Talks, preachings about our rich heritage will be conducted by scholars and thinkers. Inorder to instill values of Sanskara and Sanskrithi in the kids, the Task Force will be organising summer camps.
The decline of Indian Family System and culture due to modernisation is one of the reasons for Hindu girls falling prey to Love Jihad.
NK: Once the task force is launched, can you prevent right wing activists from taking law into hands in the name of fighting “Love Jihad?”
Swamiji: Any organisation should ask its activists to adhere to certain rules and discipline. No one should be allowed to take law into hands. The organisation, we are forming is constitutional and its workers will have to abide by the set of rules and regulations. ID cards will be issued to our activists. Anyone wishing to be a member has to fill an application. They will be assigned a certain role thereafter. In case of any instance of “Love Jihad”, right wing organisations should bring it to the notice of Task Force and later we will handle it.
Most of “Love Jihad” cases usually happen through the Facebook. Hence, an IT Cell consisting of experts has been formed to monitor the social media and inform about any such case to us.
NK: It is said that you are an aspirant for ticket and BJP leaders from the Centre have contacted you in this regard ?
Swamiji: From a long time, discussions have been going on in this regard. I have made up my mind to contest at the behest of my followers. However, senior Swamijis are not for this decision.
Senior leaders from the Centre have approached me and I am discussing with them. If god wills, I may enter politics.
