VHP to protest against UP padyatra ban today

After the banning of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP)-backed Chaurasi (84) Kos padyatra by the Uttar Pradesh government and the preventive arrests of its senior leaders Pravin Togadia and Ashok Singhal,the VHP will hold a protest demonstration in Ahmedabad Monday.

The VHP office-bearers said they had also invited the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to join the protest as it concerns the “Hindu” cause. According to Gujarat VHP chief Kaushik Mehta,the protest was being organised against banning saints for carrying out the padyatra. He said that various saints from all over Gujarat would attend the protest to be held near Subhash Bridge.

About 70 saints from across the state were to attend the padyatra in Ayodhya. However,following the arrests of its leaders and a major showdown between UP policemen and the VHP members,the plan has been put on hold. The VHP officials said discussion was on to take the next step.