With the UP Government adamant on its ban on 84-kosi parikrama and VHP deciding to go ahead with its August 25 yatra plan despite the ban, a face-off between sants and the UP Government seems imminent.
Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) patron Ashok Singhal on Tuesday asked the Akhilesh Government to revoke the ban that aims to crush the religious sentiments of sants and seers coming from all over the country. He added that if the government sticks to its antics, Hindus should get ready for a peaceful and democratic struggle. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav claimed that the ban was clamped keeping in mind the law & order issue.
“The sants will not hesitate to protest or go to jail if government sticks to ban,'' said Senior VHP functionary Swami Chinmayanand, in a press conference at Faizabad. He added that the parikrama would go ahead as per the earlier schedule moving around in six districts --- Faizabad, Gonda, Bahraich, Basti, Barabanki and Ambedkarnagar --- covering over 250 km during which 40 public meetings would take place.
About 150 sants and dharmacharyas have been invited from each State for the parikrama. They would stage dharna and court arrest if prevented from participating in the parikrama, senior VHP leader said.
VHP spokesman Prakash Sharma, on behalf of Ashok Singhal, issued a communiqué in which they cited what transpired between VHP leaders and the SP Government during their meeting on August 17. The release said that an 11-member Sant Delegation called on Mulayam Singh Yadav and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and the meeting lasted for two hours.
Meanwhile, Hashim Ansari, the oldest litigant in vexed case of Ayodhya, has welcomed the decision of ban and complemented the State Government for the step.