. NEW DELHI: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s (VHP) on Wednesday condemned attempts to “pressure the judiciary” and raised concerns over the status of religious minorities and the spread of jihadist ideology, as its two-day Kendriya Margdarshak Mandal (KMM) meeting concluded in the capital. Reference was also made to jihad as an ideological challenge beyond law-and-order.Amid growing political pushback against recent court verdicts touching on religious issues, the KMM objected to a proposal in Parliament, backed by the DMK and the Shiv Sena (Uddhav faction), to impeach Madras High Court judge Justice GR Swaminathan over a verdict seen as favouring Hindu interests, calling it an attempt to exert undue pressure on the judiciary. Over 100 Opposition MPs Move to Remove Madras HC Judge GR Swaminathan VHP international president Alok Kumar told reporters that 225 senior saints from across sects participated in the deliberations. On the question of minorities, Kumar said the Constitution grants special privileges to religious minorities but “does not define what constitutes a religious minority.” He pointed out that under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992, the Centre has the power to notify minorities.The Mandal, he said, holds the view that the term “religious minority” must be clearly defined, and that the issue should be debated to examine whether any religious community has historically faced persecution or social backwardness. Referring to census figures, Kumar said Muslims formed over 14% of the population in 2011 and that estimates now place it between 18–20%. “India is a secular country. Our Constitution rejects any discrimination on the basis of religion,” he said, questioning whether minority status should continue in such circumstances.On jihad, Kumar said investigations into the recent Red Fort blast showed the accused were “educated, from high-income groups, and socially well-established,” and claimed that a university had emerged as a centre for recruitment and indoctrination, with terror funding coming from abroad. He said jihad was rooted not in poverty but in “rigid religious fanaticism.”About the AuthorManash Pratim GohainManash Pratim Gohain is a seasoned journalist with over two decades at The Times of India, where he has built a rich body of work spanning education policy, politics, and governance. Renowned for his incisive coverage of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, accreditation reforms, and skilling initiatives, he has also reported on student politics, urban policy, and social movements. His political reportage—both reflective and news-driven—adds depth to his writing, bridging policy with public impact. Through his 2,500 articles and related outlets, he has emerged as a trusted voice in national discourse, particularly in linking education reform to broader societal change.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosVande Mataram: Priyanka Chaturvedi Urges Parliament To Correct ‘WhatsApp Version’ Of India’s HistoryRahul Gandhi’s ‘Open Challenge’ To Amit Shah In Lok Sabha Over SIR Gets ‘I Will Decide’ ReplyExplained: The Sindhudesh Push In Karachi And The Historical Fractures Driving Pakistan’s TurmoilIndiGo’s 5% Flight Cut Explained: Causes, Impact on Routes, and the Ripple Effects on PassengersMicrosoft CEO ‘Thrilled’ About India’s Growing Data Centre Capacity, Details Meet With PM ModiRussian FM Lavrov Praises India, Calls Putin’s Delhi Visit Proof Of Strong Converging ObjectivesAAP’s Raghav Chadha Recites Moving Poem On 150 Years Of Vande MataramPiyush Goyal Says India-US Trade Talks Progressing Steadily As Both Sides Push For Big BreakthroughShashi Tharoor Refuses Savarkar Award After Organisers Announce His Name Without ConfirmationUNESCO Adds Diwali To Heritage List Marking A Landmark Global Recognition For India’s Culture123Photostories’Dhurandhar’ star Sara Arjun just served the most elegant floral moment of the season‘Gangs of Wasseypur’, ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’, ‘Shootout at Lokhandwala’: Bollywood movies that brought infamous gangsters Alive6 powerful Shiv Mantras and how reciting them regularly can bring in a transformative experience in lifeSHE Travels: 9 beach holidays in India perfect for your next girls’ trip7 daily winter soups for better digestion, immunity & energy5 vegetables that are healthier raw than cooked8 weakest currencies in the world10 most romantic quotes by Rumi that still feel magicalChef Pankaj Bhadoria explains which type of roti should be consumed in which seasonDiwali now in UNESCO’s cultural heritage list, 5 other festivals and traditions that have made it to the list123Hot PicksIndia US DealMutual Fund AdvisorSpiceJet FlightGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingGracie MansionUAE Player TimingAnthony Richardson InjuryTriston JarryVenus Williams and Andrea Net WorthSlient Hill 1 Remake Release DateRafael Nadal and Mery Net WorthTrey Benson Injury updateCheat Codes in Red Dead RedemptionGurgaon Man Chicken Momos
NEW DELHI: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s (VHP) on Wednesday condemned attempts to “pressure the judiciary” and raised concerns over the status of religious minorities and the spread of jihadist ideology, as its two-day Kendriya Margdarshak Mandal (KMM) meeting concluded in the capital. Reference was also made to jihad as an ideological challenge beyond law-and-order.Amid growing political pushback against recent court verdicts touching on religious issues, the KMM objected to a proposal in Parliament, backed by the DMK and the Shiv Sena (Uddhav faction), to impeach Madras High Court judge Justice GR Swaminathan over a verdict seen as favouring Hindu interests, calling it an attempt to exert undue pressure on the judiciary.
VHP international president Alok Kumar told reporters that 225 senior saints from across sects participated in the deliberations. On the question of minorities, Kumar said the Constitution grants special privileges to religious minorities but “does not define what constitutes a religious minority.” He pointed out that under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992, the Centre has the power to notify minorities.The Mandal, he said, holds the view that the term “religious minority” must be clearly defined, and that the issue should be debated to examine whether any religious community has historically faced persecution or social backwardness. Referring to census figures, Kumar said Muslims formed over 14% of the population in 2011 and that estimates now place it between 18–20%. “India is a secular country. Our Constitution rejects any discrimination on the basis of religion,” he said, questioning whether minority status should continue in such circumstances.On jihad, Kumar said investigations into the recent Red Fort blast showed the accused were “educated, from high-income groups, and socially well-established,” and claimed that a university had emerged as a centre for recruitment and indoctrination, with terror funding coming from abroad. He said jihad was rooted not in poverty but in “rigid religious fanaticism.”
