Bengaluru: Supporting the VHP’s ‘Ghar Wapsi’ programme promoted by Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Praveen Togadia, pontiffs of various mutts also on Sunday stressed on the importance of eradicating untouchability on the golden jubilee celebration of VHP organized at the National College Grounds.

Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Praveen Togadia on Saturday said his organisation would launch a movement for Hindus of all communities to remove untouchability and promote inter dining with Dalits, acknowledging which pontiffs said, “”Ills like untouchability have to be ended as it only weakens our society. Along with caste, regionalism is a threat to our nation.”

Addressing the Virat Hindu Samajotsava, RSS general secretary Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi along with Madara Chennaiah Swami, pontiff of a mutt belonging to Scheduled Caste, cautioned that those who return to Hinduism after conversion should not feel the heat of untouchability again

“The Hindu community should examine the causes for large scale conversion of Hindus that has happened in the country. Untouchability is the main cause for people of lower castes converting to other religions. But dalits will stand in front when it comes to uniting the nation,” pontiff added.

With reference to Ghar Wapsi, earlier Togadia had said, “Let no one teach us about tolerance, from the time when this universe was created we have tolerance, if we were not tolerant, people from across the world couldn’t have come and settled here. Those who do religious conversions are the enemies of tolerance. Hindus have never done religious conversions. Hindus have been converted, now Hindus will not be converted, we will do Ghar Wapsi”, he averred.

Meanwhile, Security was beefed up around the venue and in sensitive parts of the city, with policemen, assisted by Rapid Action Force, Quick Response Teams and other security personnel deployed in good strength.