Seeking a Bill to construct Ram Temple at Ayodhya, the former International president of right wing organisation Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Pravin Togadia set on indefinite fast on Tuesday at Ahmedabad.
Togadia who lost his post a week ago took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi before he began fast saying that PM had promised to sort out all issues once majority Government would be formed. “Since last four years, I have been waiting for the solutions for all problems,” said the 62-year-old leader who chose Paladi area of the city where VHP’s Gujarat headquarters is situated. He was joined in by a motley group of saints and supporters.
Though Togadia didn’t get permission to hold fast, he continued with his predefined programme. The state administration made it a point to deploy adequate police personnel at the venue. Talking to reporters Togadia said that he and his supporters main demand was for a law to be passed by the Parliament facilitating Ram Temple, for ban on cow slaughter, for Uniform Civil Code.
He criticised the BJP led Central Government’s economic policies and governance. The Government took U-turn on MNREGA, on Aadhaar, on GST and it was not enough they brought demonetisation and GST which only killed businesses, he added.
A former surgeon by profession, Togadia had emerged as one of the key firebrand leaders from Gujarat fighting for the cause of Hindu community.
Along with PM Modi, Togadia is said to have played a key role in helping deepen impact of RSS and BJP ideology in the State and across country.
The known Modi baiter who belongs to powerful Patidar community went on to say that neither previous nor current Government at centre did anything for Ram temple and hence people need to think for the third option.