‘Hindutva’ Yuva Kumbh sets new India agenda

LUCKNOW:

Ram temple

,

Hindutva

and Kumbh dominated the discourse at

Yuva Kumbh

, organized by Lucknow University in association with the state government at Smriti Upvan on Sunday.


Amid raising of slogans ‘Vote usi ko jayega, joh mandir banwayega’ at the event having the tagline ‘Vichar naye Bharat ka’ (The idea of a new India), the address of main speakers revolved around the call for construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya and Kumbh being held in Prayagraj from January 15. In between the sessions, moderators read out ‘hindutva’ poetry, eulogising Hindutva and ‘New India’.

The first session on research, development and service for nation building saw speakers delving on Kumbh and construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Giving a brief history of the Ayodhya dispute, Supreme Court advocate Monika Arora said the nation’s youth is disappointed by the fact that the hearing on Ram temple is not a priority for the apex court.

Lauding Indian traditions, Olympics medalist-turned-pro boxer Vijender Singh recalled that sometime back he faced an Hungarian opponent who was consuming snake blood for power. “After knocking him down, I told him that secret of my power is cow’s milk,” said Singh.

Film director Madhur Bhandarkar said, “No matter how much busy we are but we shouldn't forget our culture.”

Wrestler Sushil Kumar said that when anyone asks him about his native place, he says, “For me nation comes first always, so I belong to every part of the country.”

Praising preparations for Kumbh, actor Ravi Kishan said, “Kumbh will be a place where people will witness the grandiosity of Hinduism and our culture.”

The young audience also told TOI that they back the Ram temple construction demand. Shivam Pathak, an ABVP member from Balrampur, said, “Ram mandir must be constructed. It is an issue close to our hearts and sentiments.”

“This huge gathering at Yuva Kumbh has brought all the young Hindus under one roof,” said Anubhav Tyagi from Dehradun, associated with RSS.

However, there were some who did not appreciate the popular narrative at the event. “This is a PR event to brainwash people and bring them under saffron regime. Sensitive issues like Ram mandir and cows have been raised here for political interests,” said Vishnu Tripathi, a civil services aspirant from Gorakhpur.