On Friday (20th February), the Hindu organisation ‘Sanatan Sanstha’ rubbished lies peddled by the Congress party about Union Ministry of Culture funding the “Sanatan Rashtra Shankhnaad Mahotsav” at Bharat Mandapam to the tune of ₹63 lakhs.
The grand old party had claimed that the Modi government funded the organisation’s silver jubilee event and alleged that it featured ‘anti-Muslim rhetoric’.
In its statement, Sanatan Sanstha has pointed out that the sum of ₹63 lakhs was provided by the government for an exhibition on Vande Mataram and weapons used by Chhatrapati Shivaji.
What did Sanatan Sanstha say
Sanatan Sanstha highlighted that it organised the “Sanatan Rashtra Shankhnaad Mahotsav” between 13th December and 15th December to mark its silver jubilee. According to the Hindu organisation, the National song ‘Vande Mataram’ was sung for 3 days in Hall No. 12 near Bharat Mandapam.
Sanatan Sanstha spokesperson Abhay Vartak stated, “An exhibition was also organised alongside the event, featuring historical weapons from the era of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. This exhibition was scheduled to be inaugurated by honourable ministers, and we submitted a proposal to the government through regular government procedures. The government approved it accordingly.”
The Hindu organisation argued that it received the money for the Vande Mataram performance. Abhay Vartak stated that the remainder of the event was part of the Sanatan Sanstha’s Silver Festival, which was titled “Sanatan Rashtra Shankhnaad Mahotsav”.
He emphasised, “There were no anti-Indian, anti-Constitution speeches at the event. The speakers voiced their opinions against the atrocities being committed against Hindus.”
Vartak further highlighted, “The Congress Chief Minister of Telangana, while holding a constitutional position, makes unconstitutional declarations like ‘Congress means Muslims and Muslims mean Congress.’ He declares reservations for the Muslim community based on religion despite the Supreme Court striking them down multiple times. Congress leaders in Kerala slaughter cows on the streets to protest the beef ban. Isn’t all this unconstitutional? Therefore, the Congress should first examine its own sins.”
He dismissed the propaganda to brand Hindus as ‘terrorists’ and pointed out how Sanatan Sanstha was implicated in false cases.
Vartak stated, “The court has not convicted Sanatan Sanstha in any case, yet we will file defamation lawsuits against the Congress leaders who called us terrorists and the related portals.”
