Kochi, Thursday 26 Feb 2009: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) international secretary-general Pravin Togadia has accused the State government of encouraging fundamentalism by offering pension to maulavis of madrasas.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, he said the madrasas were teaching ‘jihad,’ which was nothing other than religious fundamentalism. Togadia charged the State government with discriminating against Hindus by offering scholarships of Rs.10,000 to Muslim girl students.

Tribal girls were being given Rs.400 only, he said. The government should extend assistance to the economically weaker sections and not to the members of a particular community.

The Muslims in Kerala are not economically or academically backward. They are on a par or even better than Hindus (in economic status). He criticised the U.S. government’s policy to impose curbs on H1B visas to Indians.

This will harm the interests of Indian students who are pursuing studies there. Under the situation, India should ban U.S. products, he said. The VHP leader said the petroleum producing countries of West Asia were responsible for the current economic slowdown.