‘Starting point’ asks why yatra now

No sign of VHP men yet as villagers say they are not interested,police work out security plan

This small village of 60-odd houses is the place from where the VHP is scheduled to launch its 84-kosi parikrama Sunday. But 24 hours before,there is no sign here of the VHP,nor of any preparations for the event.

However,police are everywhere,as are the PAC,fire brigade,and some police boats in the Manorama river. CCTV cameras have been installed in and around the small temple in the village where the VHP wants to hold a havan.

We never had such a strong police force here in the past. During the annual fair,just a few local policemen would be on duty, a villager said.

Makhauda is nearly 20 km from Ayodhya on the Basti-Faizabad road. Several barricades have come up on the way,with policemen stopping vehicles and asking questions before letting occupants proceed.

While the VHP appears to have been kept at bay,police are not taking chances. Said sub-inspector Amit Pathak,We have been asked to remain alert as VHP people are expected to reach here during the night. Boats have been kept ready to intercept them as they may use the river.

Villagers said they were not interested in the VHP parikrama. We take part in the yatra which is held in Baisakh and has religious sanction. Just visit us then and you will see crowds from adjoining areas flocking here. No one is interested in this yatra and the VHP has not approached us, said Ram Chandra. The traditional 84-kosi parikrama is organised in April-May.

I have not seen any yatra being organised in Bhadon month (of the Hindu calendar), added Uday Chandra Gupta,who lives close to the temple where King Dashrath is believed to have performed a yagna to fulfill his wish for sons.

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Priest Suraj Das said the VHP had approached him to use the temple for havan and rituals. I informed our Mahant Devendra Prasadarchaya of Dashrath Mahal in Ayodhya,he allowed them. But I am not going to perform their yagna,it is their programme and let them do it, Das said.

He also talked about the actual 84-kosi parikarma being held during April-May. But they (VHP) can do it now too if they have announced,as there is no harm in performing religious rituals. But no VHP people has arrived yet, he added.

The only visitors to the temple Saturday were policemen,who prepared a map of the premises to decide a security plan.

Villagers admitted to being apprehensive. We are concerned about tomorrow as nothing untoward has happened in our village till now, said Gupta.

Extra police has also been deployed in Muslim villages.

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