GOA: The likely demolition of a Hindu Vedic cultural center in St. Petersburg, the largest such center in Russia, has invoked the ire of the Hindu right wing in India. A right wing group Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) has petitioned the Russian consulate officials seeking cancelation of the court order which seeks demolition of the center because of expiration of lease. “Just when the dust of the proposed ban on the most sacred text of Hindus (Shrimad bhagwadgita) in Russia was about to settle, a Russian local court has ordered demolition of the largest Hindu temple and the Vedic center there, thus spreading a wave of anger amongst Hindus all over the world,” HJS convenor Jayesh Thali told Bikyamasr.com. “More than a matter of law, it is a matter of religious sentiment which the Russian government has to honor,” HJS convenor Jayesh Thali said in his memorandum handed over to Vikram Varma, who represents the Russian consular authorities. The Vedic cultural center, which promotes ancient Indian culture and Sanskrit language located in President Vladimir Putin's hometown follows a local court's directive ordering the same. HJS has demanded that Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should immediately look into this matter, to protect the religious sentiments of the local Hindu populace which is in minority there, compel the Russian government to revoke the local court order. The promoters of the center have however claimed that the demolition orders “could be” a part of an anti-Hindu campaign by orthodox forces in Russia, which included a move to seek an official ban on the Bhagwad Gita. The center's chairman Suren Karapetyan said that he expected the Indian government to intervene and stall the demolition. “We are expecting some kind of intervention from the Indian government as we are preserving the Indian culture and traditions in Russia. We appeal to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to help us in our cause and save the cultural center and the temple from being demolished,” he said, claiming that the demolition was illegal.
