Lucknow: The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) international president Alok Kumar said on Tuesday that if the majority of the country holds a particular view, others should not make an issue of it. He said that Islam in India is technically a minority, PTI reported.
He said so while rejecting opposition criticism of controversial remarks made by a Allahabad High Court judge, Shekhar Yadav, who made the comments while speaking at an event organized by VHP in Prayagraj.
While speaking at the event, Yadav said that the law should work according to the majority's wishes. The sitting judge was speaking about the Uniform Civil Code and other matters at the event. The videos of him speaking at the event were circulated widely, triggering a strong reaction from opposition parties.
Kumar said on Tuesday he was not present at the Prayagraj meeting but was certainly aware of the deliberations. However, he added that he would not be apologetic even if the HC judge had said that the law should work as per the wishes of the majority.
"So, I would not be apologetic about it if he (the HC judge) said so. If a majority holds a particular view, then others should not make an issue of it," he said.
"We had invited the judge as a faculty to speak on the Uniform Civil Code. We work among former judges and invite them to work for the VHP for Hindutva. But as far as sitting judges are concerned, we do not expect them or invite them to work for the VHP. Sometimes, on topics like the UCC, we invite them to enlighten us," Kumar told PTI on the phone.
"Islam in India is technically a minority, but considering their good numbers, they are a second majority in India. So, unless we develop mutual respect if not respect, then mutual tolerance for others' sensitivities, there cannot be any integration," the VHP leader said.