Trains, buses diverted to keep out kar sevaks

At least 12 companies of CRPF have been diverted from Jammu and Kashmir to Ayodhya. In Lucknow, Chief Secretary Akhand Pratap Singh told reporters that para-military forces had started reaching Lucknow and there would be sufficient force available by Monday to control VHP activists.

The state administration has sealed all routes leading to Ayodhya, diverted trains — from Monday, Sabarmati Express and the Howrah-Dehra Dun Express will not touch Ayodhya, diverted from Sultanpur — and stopped movement of buses in its bid to stop people from collecting for the VHP programme. Personnel of Rapid Action Force, CRPF and PAC have already been deployed in strength at Hanumangarhi, Ram Janmabhoomi complex, Kanak Bhavan temple, the town borders and other areas of the district where prohibitory orders have been clamped until the month-end.

District magistrate Deepak Kumar said there was no restriction on the entry of common people to Ayodhya and they were being let in after thorough screening. Local intelligence reports spoke of large number of kar sevaks from Gujarat, Orissa, Bihar and Karnataka heading for Ayodhya for the VHP’s sankalp and dev darshan programme: the VHP plans to make kar sevaks take a pledge for temple construction and then send them to the disputed site for a darshan of the idol of the child-Ram there.

Faizabad range DIG V K Agarwal told The Indian Express that ‘‘the VHP draws its maximum cadre strength from Gujarat for any movement followed by Orissa and Karnataka.’’

‘‘We have made elaborate arrangements to ensure that kar sevaks do not enter Ayodhya for the October 17 event. But nothing can be said with certainty until the programme ends.’’

Temporary jails have been erected in districts adjoining Ayodhya and Faizabad to hold the kar sevaks. Ayodhya has been heavily fortified and policemen on the streets outnumber the pilgrims.

Fuming over the heavy police bandobast, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, chairman of the Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas, said: ‘‘We have already announced a peaceful programme but the Mulayam Singh government is making unnecessary attempts to restrict the entry of kar sevaks. The programme is to simply express Hindu sentiments on the Ram temple.’’

The BJP had been keeping a distance with no major leader, including Faizabad MP and state BJP chief Vinay Katiyar, planning to attend the VHP programme. ‘‘Why should they attend? The VHP has criticised BJP leaders for ignoring the issue which got them power at the Centre,’’ countered Mahant Nritya Gopal Das.

With not much local enthusiasm for the October 17 programme, the VHP is banking on support of ‘‘outsiders’’ for its success. ‘‘They will be here despite the restrictions. Wait for the day,’’ said confident VHP functionaries.