Thaindian News

Mumbai, Sep 13 (IANS) A day after Maharashtra Home Minister R.R. Patil disclosed plans to ban the Hindu Sanatan Sanstha, the right-wing organisation Tuesday termed the proposed move as “unfair and unjust” and said it would challenge it in court.

Condemning the move, Sanstha spokesman Abhay Vartak accused the government of not permitting Hindu organisations any platform to express their views.

“If such unjust methods continue, Hindus could get provoked,” Vartak said, but clarified that his statement should not be construed as a “threat”.

The Sanstha would challenge any ban in court, he said.

He decried moves by certain leaders, including Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, Home Minister Patil and NCP Thane legislator Jitendra Awhad of making baseless allegations against the Sansthan.

The move to ban has come after it came to light that two people belonging to the Sanatan Sanstha were involved in the 2008 Thane blasts.

“We had nothing to do with the (2008) Thane blasts, we did not provide the accused with funds or legal advice and their actions had nothing to do with our nationalistic or religious activities,” Vartak emphasized, adding that the Anti-Terrorist Squad charge-sheet or the court verdict did not mention the organization.

The Sanstha official invited Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan to visit its ashrams and institutions to learn about its patriotic and religious character and ascertain whether they were involved in terror activities.

Patil Monday told media persons that the state had submitted information to the central government over a proposed ban on the Sanstha.

Patil’s stament came barely hours before union Home Minister P. Chidambaram visited Mumbai to discussed the state’s preparedness to tackle terror.