• VHP’s Surendra Jain demands an apology from Sonia Gandhi.
• Raises questions over her response to violence against Hindus.
• Criticises Congress over religious and political remarks.
• Seeks an apology from Sonia Gandhi and other Congress leaders.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 11th Nov: Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) Central Joint General Secretary Dr Surendra Jain has demanded an apology from Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, alleging that her statements and political positions have hurt Hindu sentiments and overlooked the suffering of Hindus and sacrifices of security personnel.

In a strongly worded statement, Surendra Jain questioned Sonia Gandhi’s reported emotional response to the demolition of the Babri structure, contrasting it with what he described as a lack of similar concern over violence against Hindus and the deaths of security personnel.

Referring to the 2008 Batla House encounter in Delhi, Jain questioned Gandhi’s reported reaction to the incident and raised the death of Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma, who was seriously injured during the operation and later succumbed to his injuries.

Jain also questioned her response to incidents of violence in Kashmir, including the alleged demolition of more than 350 temples and the killings of members of the Hindu community. He further referred to the killing of saints during the anti-cow slaughter agitation in Delhi, the deaths of kar sevaks, including Sharad Kothari and Ram Kothari, and the killing of Congress leaders by Naxalites in Bastar.

The VHP leader also cited the killing of Hindu tourists in Pahalgam, alleging that they were targeted after being asked about their religious identity. He extended his criticism to violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, Pakistan, West Bengal and Kerala.

Raising the issue of the 1984 anti-Sikh violence in Delhi, Jain questioned whether Sonia Gandhi had expressed similar concern over the suffering of the Sikh community or intervened to prevent the violence.

Describing her reported expressions of grief as “crocodile tears” and “election-time tears”, Jain accused the Congress leadership of selective concern and alleged that such statements were intended to appeal to a particular vote bank.

He also criticised a reported remark by Congress leader Rashid Alvi contrasting pollution levels during Diwali and Eid. Jain questioned whether the Congress leadership would express regret over statements that, according to him, hurt Hindu religious sentiments.

Accusing political parties describing themselves as secular of pursuing minority appeasement at the expense of Hindu sentiments, Jain said the Hindu community would oppose attempts to demean its religious traditions and cultural identity.

Concluding his statement, the VHP leader condemned what he described as remarks insulting Hindus and the sacrifices of security personnel. He demanded that Sonia Gandhi and other Congress leaders apologise to the Hindu community.

The statement came amid renewed political exchanges following the release of Sonia Gandhi’s memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love, on November 10. No response from Sonia Gandhi or the Congress leadership to Jain’s specific allegations was included in the statement.