India was always Hindu rashtra...what we want is a Hindu rashtra where food, education, healthcare is available to everyone, says VHP chief Praveen Togadia

Founder-international president of Vishwa Hindu Parishad Dr. Praveen Togadia addresses a press conference in Hubballi, Karnataka, on June 16, 2025.

Clarifying that India is already a ‘Hindu Rashtra’ and there was no need to make it so, founder-international president of Vishwa Hindu Parishad Dr. Praveen Togadia said the quest of for a ‘Hindu Rashtra’ where food, education and healthcare is available to all.

Addressing a press conference in Hubballi on June 16, Dr. Togadia clarified that, for the last four decades, he had been working for Hindu polity, and not politics.

“Let me make it clear. I have always been trying to influence Hindu polity in India. Our objective has been to mobilise people’s mandate to influence the government for the welfare and safey of Hindus, and will continue to work towards the same,” he said.

Recalling his college days, he said that when he was pursuing medical education, the fee was just ₹25. “But now, one has to pay crores of rupees for medical education. That’s why we want a ‘Hindu Rashtra’ where food, education and healthcare is available to all children. There should be a system which will ensure employment, both while studying and after education,” he said.

No threat to life

Replying to a query, Mr. Togadia said there is no threat to his life, and that he is safe because of the blessings of Hindus. “In fact, there was no life threat, or problem during the Congress regime either. Even now, there is no threat,” he said.

‘Hindus must have three children’

Referring to the decrease in fertility ratio, Mr. Togadia pointed out that the fertility ratio of Hindus was delcining and had been reduced to 1.7, which is a matter of concern.

“Our slogan is ‘teen bacche, Hindu sacche’ (three children, true Hindu). We will honour parents having three children. If poor people have three children, we will pay their school fees. We are financially strong to pay the fees of one lakh poor children,” he said.

Cases against Hindutva activists

On cases being filed against ‘Hindutva activists’, Dr. Togadia said that it was not just in Congress-ruled States, but even elsewhere cases were being filed against Hindutva activists. If fake cases are being filed agains them, VHP would fight against it. “We will fight for the safety of Hindus,” he said.

On Operation Sindoor, he said that while it was good that the armed forces had gone into Pakistan to destroy terror bases, the people of the nation would have been more happy if there were more casualties on the enemy side.

India progressing since 1947; it’s nation, not individual

Dr. Togadia has said that India had been marching ahead in terms of development ever since 1947, and had achieved great milestones in various fields.

Dr. Togadia said, “India itself is great. It is not right to say that political parties have made it great. Here, individual is not important, but the country is.”

However, he pointed out, there is also an India with lakhs of starving people, and where lakhs are unable to pay their children’s school fees. “We have to take along both the Indias,” he said.

Published - June 16, 2025 03:29 pm IST