Congress president Sonia Gandhi has asked senior leaders in Maharashtra to ensure that protests against VHP leader Praveen Togadia are peaceful. AICC office-bearers said Sonia has taken senior Congressmen in the state to task for the violence that erupted during protests in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur.‘‘Sonia Gandhi is categoric that there should not be any violence as it is against the tradition of the party. She feels that Congressmen are succumbing to the designs of the VHP by indulging in violence,’’ said a senior AICC leader.Sonia has reportedly also ordered senior leaders not to make provocative statements as this will aggravate the situation and cause law and order problems. Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh had warned Togadia that he would not be allowed to enter Maharashtra till he issues an apology for his remarks against the party president. Congress leaders said Sonia has, however, expressed concern over the confrontationist approach taken by the party. ‘‘Sonia is concerned because Maharashtra has become communally sensitive and any incident can spark violence,’’ said a leader.Congress workers in Nagpur on Thursday attacked Togadia’s vehicle with eggs and tomatoes, resulting in a clash with VHP activists. Several persons, injuring a policeman, were injured. Later, Togadia left for Wardha.A day earlier, Pune Congress workers blackened Togadia’s face after his rally against cow slaughter. Clashes between Congress and VHP activists followed. Five persons were injured in a scuffle between NSUI and VHP men in Mumbai on Tuesday. Some animal welfare activists in Mumbai have also complained to Sonia on the use of a dog during a protest by the youth wing of the Mumbai Regional Congress Committee. Congressmen reportedly made the dog, with a leash round its neck, leap around several times.
