Protect cows and save culture, says Sadhvi Ritambhara

Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Sadhvi Ritambhara today gave a clarion call to people to protect cows and save culture, saying no one is against country making progress but it should not be at the cost of compromising our core values.
"Cows are being slaughtered... We have to protect our cows," she said addressing a function here organised by VHP as part of its golden jubilee celebrations.
Ritambhara said despite a rich history and inheritance of strong values from our ancestors, sages and saints over the years, the Hindu community, like others, has not remained untouched by growing materialism in the society.

She further pointed out that a stage has come where we stand "confused" not knowing which direction is right and added that the problem has been aggravated with people quickly copying the negative things from other cultures and societies rather than absorbing good things from them.
The saffron leader also lamented youth falling prey to drug menace and expressed concern for the them turning insensitive towards their elders.
"The respect which our youth once used to have towards their parents and elders is gradually eroding. We have a growing number of old age homes, a proof that we are increasingly becoming insensitive towards our elders," she said.

The VHP leader said she was not against the society making progress, "but at the same time we cannot compromise with our culture and the values we have inherited".

"Take example, when a seed is sown its roots remain firmly deep in the ground while the plant touches the sky. Our progress should be like that...," she said.
"I am asking you to ponder over this... If we inculcate the values among our youth that were passed on to us by our ancestors, we will make progress," she added.
Voicing concern over the practice of female foeticide, she said, "It is ironical that during auspicious Navratra festival, we worship the girl child and yet some of us don't even think twice and kill them inside mother's wombs."

Later responding to reporters' query on construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, which has for long been VHP's core agenda, she said, "We are hopeful that Ram temple will be built... This issue is before courts. If all sections of society decide, then a way out can be found."
Ritambhara refrained from making any direct comment when asked about the release of hardline Kashmiri separatist leader Masarat Alam.
However, without naming either BJP or PDP, she said coming together of two parties to form a government in Jammu and Kashmir was "unique" as both have "different ideologies".
Further, she said, "if there is common meeting ground, an effort has been made (by BJP and PDP in forming the govt), now only time will tell whether the result (forming govt by parties having completely different ideologies) will be good or bad.