http://www.hindustantimes.com/nonfram/091100/detNAT04.asp
HT Correspondent
(New Delhi, November 8)

CPI-M'S LOK Sabha member Suresh Kurup has urged UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to intervene and ensure that the VHP does not get consultative status in the Economic and Social Council of the world body.

In a brief letter to Mr Vajpayee on Tuesday, the CPI-M leader said that the organisation, which was instrumental in the demolition of the Babri Masjid "cannot represent any segment of our country in a world body like the UN." His appeal to Mr Vajpayee also underlined the VHP's "nefarious role" in the recent attacks against the Christian minorities.

In a more elaborate communication to the UN chief, Mr Kurup sought Mr Annan' s immediate intervention so that "an organisation like the VHP, which does not at all represent the lofty and tolerant traditions of the Hindu faith, is not allowed a back door entry in any of the categories of consultative status" in the Council.

Maintaining that the VHP does not meet the UN's basic guidelines and high principles, Mr Kurup said that any non-governmental organisation of repute should have a record of participatory activity in the community for getting consultative status.

Mr Kurup charged that the VHP was trying to convey a "false impression" in the UN by claiming that it was guided by the basic principle that "all humanity is one family". In reality, he said, the organisation displayed "nazifying tendencies" and "spreads ill-will against minorities." He alleged that the Sangh Parivar - of which the VHP is a partner - was behind the recent attacks on Christians.

According to Mr Kurup, an organisation, which did not even show the "minimum courtesy to apologise as a mark of repentance" for its role in the demolition of the Babri Masjid was now "trying audaciously to get a legitimised status in the UN.