State government put a ban on the proposed 84-kosi- padyatra of Vishwa Hindu Parishad(VHP) crossing six districts in Eastern UP including Ram Janam Bhomi in Ayodhya (Faizabad) reportedly to garner support for construction of Ram Temple.
''We would not allow a new tradition to be adopted when the 84-kosi-parikarma has already been held from April 25 to May 20 earlier this year,'' claimed Principal Secretary (home) R M Srivastava. Talking to media persons here on Monday evening, RM Srivastava said that Section 144 of the CrPC (Prohibitory Orders) has already been promulgated in all the six districts of Faizabad, Barabanki,
Ambedkarnagar, Gonda, Basti and Bahriach to prevent any activity of the VHP. The proposed VHP padyatra was slated from August 25 to September 13. Addressing media persons along with principal secretary (Home), Director General of Police (DGP) Devraj Nagar said that they had received the letter of the VHP president Ashok Singhal sent on August 10 last and the government had decided to ban it. '' There was no reason seen to hold the padyatra by the VHP when the 84-kosi-parkirama was already held in April-May last and it seems that political reasons were behind such programme just before the lok Sabha elections,'' he said.
Announcing that the government would take strict action against any one violating the law, he said adequate security has been made in all the six districts and the district authorities have been directed to maintain the law and order at any cost. '' The Supreme Court ruling also says about status quo at the disputed site and the announcement of the VHP that they will raise the demand for the Ram
Temple during the padyatra proves their ill-motive through this programme,'' both the officers claimed adding that allowing the yatra will also amount to contempt of the Court. RM Srivastava also denied that there was any directive from the Union Home Ministry on the matter. Meanwhile Convener of the Yatra and VHP leader Ram Vilas Vedanti has already announced to take out the yatra at any cost.
The government move clearly shows its inclination towards the minority by preventing a major religious tradition of the majority community,'' he told media persons. VHP leaders led by Ashok Singhal had met Mulayam Singh Yadav and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday last and apprised them to provide adequate security for the yatra slated to begin on August 25.
Vedanti said, ''during our meeting with the CM and SP president we had clearly stated that it was a religious yatra and there is nothing politics in it", he said adding that the act of the state government is intolerable and it was a direct infringement to the Constitutional rights of the Hindus to hold their religious belief. After the meeting between the
VHP leaders and CM district magistrates of 6 districts were summoned to lucknow to assess the security and other aspects of the yatra which is scheduled to cover 300 km of five districts of Barabanki, Faizabad, Gonda, Basti, Ambedkharnagar and Bahriach. VHP spokesman Sharad Sharma also said VHP needs no permission or clearance to perform this yatra. ''We will do what we have decided to and are not bound by government's consent,'' he said.
Meanwhile State Entertainment Taxes minister Tej Narain Pandey alias Pawan Pandey has alleged that the Vishwa Hindu Parishad(VHP) was conspiring to create communal violence in the state through its proposed 84-kosi- parikarma round Ayodhya starting from August 25.''Every year this 84-kosi-parikarma is held during the month of April but suddenly the VHP has announced this parikarma again in the month of August before the lok Sabha elections which smells something fishy,'' he alleged.
The SP MlA from Ayodhya assembly constituency clearly said that government would not allow the VHP to create communal disturbances in the state and it is likely that the yatra would be banned. '' The intention of the VHP is clear that they want communal violence in the state and hence were trying to start a new tradition of 84-kosi- parikarma in August when it is held every year during April,'' he said.
Meanwhile in Faizabad, section 144 has been progumulated in the entire district by District Magistrate from immediate effect on Monday morning and it will continue till September 19. Authorities have also started checking and frisking of people entering the district and additional security has been made in place to prevent any untoward incident. With VHP claiming that over 40,000 saints and sadhus would be participating in the yatra, the authorities have made all arrangements to prevent them from entering the district. Claimed as the VHP's biggest public movement after the 'purna aahuti mahayagya' in 2002, the 20-days-long 84- kosi-yatra, between August 25 and September 13, was supposed to garner public support by the VHP for the early construction of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya.
It may be also mentioned that the saints in Ayodhya have opposed the yatra claiming that it was just a political move and it has no religious sanctity. Mahant Raghuvar Saran, chief priest of Rasik Niwas temple of Ayodhya, said, ''this 84-Kosi yatra proposed by VHP has no religious sanctity.'' ''Ayodhya has a tradition of 84-kosi parikrama, which takes place in the month of Chaitra, according to Hindu calendar. That date is related with the birth of lord Ram in
Ayodhya which according to the Caesarean calendar falls in April,'' he said. Chief priest of Ram Janmabhumi temple Acharya Satyendra Das too said, ''According to the Hindu ritual, the 84-kosi parikrama is held from Chaitra Purnima to Baisakh Navami and has already been performed by the sadhus. The VHP is trying to start a new tradition.''