Shree Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas president Mahant Nritya Gopaldas criticized state government for banning the proposed 84-kosi yatra of theVishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). He claimed it to be a religious procession and termed the decision as very "disappointing". "The restriction imposed on the proposed 84-kosi yatra by the Samajwadi Party-led State government has hurt the sentiments of scores of Hindus," Mahant Gopaldas said in Ayodhya on Thursday. It will be a religious procession and the saints and the VHP workers will continue with the yatra without any fear, he asserted. It is our moral right and no person can be stopped from performing 'parikrama', he further stated. The saint further said that the VHP leaders don't fear any arrest.
Though the VHP leaders have announced to start the yatra at any cost but its leader Swami Chinmaynanad on Thursday said that if the sadhus and saints are stopped then
they would sit on dharna at the same place till they are permitted to hold the yatra. Several VHP leaders have also gone underground apprehending their arrests by the state police.
Meanwhile, VHP leaders refused to say anything more on the matter and reiterated that their programme would be held as per the schedule. VHP had announced to hold the 84-kosi-padyatra from August 25 to September 13. The decision is said to have been taken at the high level meeting of the VHP held in Haridwar in June last. According to VHP sources, on the opening day sadhus and saints from Kanpur,Jaipur and Ahmedabad would participate in the yatra and they are likely to reach Faizabad by train.