Vedanti's fatwa: BJP cuts corner; MK thanks VHP

New Delhi: The BJP on Saturday distanced itself from the statement of senior VHP leader Ram Vilas Vedanti, in which the former BJP MP sought the beheading of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi for speaking against Lord Ram.

Asked to react to Vedanti’s fatwa-style declaration, the party said it doesn't serve the purpose of Hinduism.

Party spokesman Prakash Jawadekar, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh, senior party leader Vinay Katiyar and others — who were attending the BJP's three-day National Executive meet — described Vedanti’s statements as his personal view.

Former Union minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussain defended the party, saying, “In every democracy, a democratic process has to be adopted for solving every problem. Union Shipping Minister TR Baalu's denying the existence of the Ram Setu in the wake of Karunanidhi’s statement is a conspiracy by the Centre. The Congress is issuing such statements in a predetermined manner.”

Claiming that the Setu was synonymous with Indianness, nationality and culture, Kalyan Singh said one who denied Lord Ram’s existence was denying the Indian nation itself.

Vedanti had earlier declared that “Ayodhya would give gold to the weight of the man, who will behead Karunanidhi as he has insulted the Hindu religion. Karunanidhi has no right to sit on the Chair of the Chief Minister.”

DMK chief M Karunanidhi reacted curtly to the threat, saying "the head is not just something that is on your shoulder, but it's also an address." Talking to CNN-IBN, he said: "Even if someone takes off my head my address will remain in TN."

Karunanidhi appealed to his people not to fear or get angry. "Whether I am alive or not, I will be with you in your blood and breath," he said. "No one can destroy me because I am a part of you. They are willing to pay in gold for my head, see what a precious head I have got. I wish these people well and thank them," he said.

The DMK chief reiterated that come what may, he would stand by his belief.

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