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EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, DEC 28: The BJP and its allies today sought to distance themselves from the VHP's conspiracy theory on the Nobel Prize being awarded to eminent economist Amartya Sen, even as the main Opposition party, the Congress, asked the VHP to withdraw the offensive remarks.
The BJP sought to cover up its embarrassment by terming as ``improper'', VHP working president Ashok Singhal's contention that the conferment of Nobel Prize on Sen was part of a Christian conspiracy to wipe out Hinduism. ``The award has made the entire nation proud,'' countered BJP general secretary K L Sharma.
The TDP, which supports the BJP-led Government from outside, too objected to VHP leader Singhal's remarks on Amartya Sen and Mother Teresa being conferred the Nobel Prize, saying such views deserved ``universal condemnation.''
``To say that the award was a part of a Christian conspiracy to propogate their religion and wipe out Hinduism, could only be a manifestation of a sick mind, born out of inadequate understanding ofHinduism,'' TDP leader V S Rao said here.
He said it was universally known that Sen had been pioneering the cause of welfare economics, while the dedicated and lifelong services of Mother Teresa to hapless destitutes was legendary.
``Such an effort to drive a wedge between people of different faiths deserves universal condemnation,'' Rao said,``I am confident that no sane thinking Indian will share Singhal's views,'' he added.
``Sen and Mother Teresa fully deserved this honour and if somebody disputes it, then it is not proper. We disapprove of it,'' Sharma told reporters here this afternoon.
The award to Sen, according to him, is a matter of pride for the entire nation and the BJP joins the nation in felicitating Sen on his achievement.
His colleague M Venkaiah Naidu too voiced his opposition to the VHP's remarks. ``Sen deserved the honour that was conferred on him and I do not agree with Singhalji,'' he told reporters at Nagpur today.
The Congress, in the meanwhile, demanded that the VHPwithdraw its offensive remarks against the Nobel laureate, that the award was part of a Christian conspiracy to propagate its religion.
Party spokesperson Girija Vyas, commenting on the remarks made by the VHP leader, said he had ``lost his mental balance'' in making such a statement, at a time when the entire country was rejoicing over the fact that an Indian had bagged the prestigious award.
She also took strong exception to Singhal's remarks against Mother Teresa, saying through her work for the upliftment of the downtrodden, she had brought glory to India.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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