10. Press Statement by Shri K. S. Sudarshanji Sarsanghchalak of the RSS

The barbaric and beastly carnage in Godhra, in which 57 Ram Bhakts, including 40 women and children, who were returning by the Sabarmati Express after performing Poornahuti in Ayodhya, were burnt alive has naturally stunned, traumatised and angered the national mind - especially, the Hindu mind. This anger has manifested itself all over the country in the form of spontaneous bandhs in numerous places.

However, in some places this mass fury has chosen the path of violence to express itself. Security forces have had to be deployed on a large scale to bring this violence under control. This violence must stop immediately because innocent and helpless people become its inevitable victims. I make a fervent appeal to all countrymen that they actively come forward to stop this senseless violence. I also call upon them to foil the sinister designs of Pakistan-inspired anti-national forces who are trying to create fissures in our national unity through such plots. I also urge my Muslim brethren to isolate such elements who, in the name of Islam, are engaged in unholy activities with a view to weaken the existing bonds of brotherhood between all the children of Bharat Mata.

I also request both the Central Government and State Governments not to needlessly detain those pilgrims who wish to travel to Ayodhya to take a darshan of Bhagwan Ram and to participate in the Poornahuti Yagna there. Not to permit them to go to Ayodhya would be a denial of their democratic rights. Hurting the Hindu sentiments in this manner can only result in unnecessarily enraging them. Our expectation from the Centre and the State Governments is only this; that they make suitable arrangements for the security of those who have been peacefully undertaking their religious journey; and that they remove all hurdles in the way of a peaceful conclusion of the religious programme in Ayodhya.

At a time when the armies of India and Pakistan are facing each other eyeball-to-eyeball on our borders, it is the duty of the Government and citizens alike not to do anything that would weaken our national unity.