Govt ejects Singhal with house arrest threat

On Thursday,Singhal arrived in Allahabad to immerse the ashes of his younger brother, who passed away in Delhi on August 17,in the Holy Sangam. He said the parikrama would go ahead as planned and any effort by the UP government to stop it would lead to problems.

Around 11.30 am Friday,a team led by Additional DM (City),Ashok Kumar,Superintendent of Police (City) and SP (trans-Yamuna) reached Singhal’s residence in Allahabad.

“We told him if he made a move towards Ayodhya,he would be put under house arrest. But Singhal told us he had to go to Delhi to complete certain rituals related to the demise of his younger brother. This was communicated to the top level of the state administration,which allowed him to go to Delhi,” said Kumar. Chief Development Officer (Allahabad),A K Rai,added,“A team had gone to his residence as a precautionary measure. He was allowed to go to Delhi,following clearance from the top level amid security.” VHP’s city spokesperson Pawan Srivastava said Singhal was still determined to reach Ayodhya.

“He (Singhal) said the administration has tried to arrest him several times but failed. He would reach Ayodhya,but anything in this regard will now happen from Delhi,’’ Srivastava said.