Right-wing organisation Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has declared on Tuesday that it will commence the 'Sankalp Diwas' on 18 October despite the ban imposed by the Uttar Pradesh government.
"The Sankalp Diwas yatra will take place. If they (UP authorities) try to stop it, the entire Hindu fraternity will stand against them (UP government)," Ashok Singhal, VHP president (international), told ANI.
In the background of the Muzaffarnagar riots, the Samajwadi Party-led government had banned the proposed 'Sankalp Diwas' fearing a similar communal flare-up. The VHP wanted to initiate an agitation for rebuilding a Ram Temple at the disputed RamJanmbhoomi site in Ayodhya.
This is for the second time that the saffron outfit has been held back from launching a yatra to gain support on a parliamentary legislation to build the temple.
"Iska virodh karke yeh Hindu samaj ka daman karke raj karna chahte hai (By protesting against this yatra, they are trying to govern the state by suppressing the Hindu community)," Singhal added.
He also accused the UP government of objecting to the yatra due to Minority Affairs and Urban Development Minister Mohd Azam Khan who stands against the saffron outfit.
"Banning VHP sankalp Yatra , a peaceful program is nothing but vote bank politics of akhilesh govt," Prakash Javadekar, Spokesperson of Bharatiya Janata Party, tweeted.
Muslim Cleric Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali said that yatras like these come up when elections are nearing and this is nothing more than a political gimmick.
Meanwhile, elaborate security arrangements have been made in UP to implement the government's ban on the recommendations by the Faizabad district administration.
"As many as 5 ASPs, 10 DySPs, 50 inspectors, 50 SIs, 10 lady SIs, 300 constables, besides five companies of PAC and anti-sabotage teams are being deployed to ensure that the orders are implemented," IG (Law and Order) R K Vishkarma had told PTI.
