Crackdown on VHP's 'parikrama yatra' leads to protests in Delhi

The Uttar Pradesh Government's massive crackdown to prevent the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) from going ahead with its 'Chaurasi Kosi Parikrama Yatra in Ayodhya on Sunday, led to protests on the streets of Delhi on Monday.

About 2,000 VHP activists protested at Jantar Mantar and the police used water cannons when some of them tried to break barricades to go towards Parliament. In the Lok Sabha, BJP member Yogi Adityanath accused the UP government of insulting Hindus by not allowing the VHP to go ahead with its planned yatra.

"The UP government has insulted saints. There was no politics in the yatra. What kind of a government is this? It bans yatra and lets go of terror suspects," he said.

However, Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of playing vote bank politics and indulging in hooliganism, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav told the Lok Sabha that the state government was only following the orders of the Supreme Court.

"Supreme Court directed that till the time there is no judgement nothing should happen. We didn't beat up anyone, we only maintained law and order," Yadav said.

Senior VHP leaders Pravin Togadia and Ashok Singhal were among the nearly 1,700 people arrested in a massive crackdown by the Uttar Paradesh administration to foil the saffron outfit's yatra on Sunday that was banned over fears of a communal flare-up.

The planned 'Chaurasi Kosi Parikrama Yatra' was to have lasted till 13th September criss-crossing six districts of Uttar Pradesh.

The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court had earlier on Saturday dismissed a plea for allowing the 'Chaurasi Kosi Parikrama Yatra', stating that there is a possibility of tension, and added that the restriction will be maintained.

The VHP has vowed to kick off its 'Chaurasi Kosi Parikrama' around Ayodhya to revive its demand for a Ram temple.

The Samajwadi Party Government has banned the proposed Yatra, as a preemptive measure against communal flare-up, and put in place elaborate security arrangements by rushing in 10 companies of the Rapid Action Force and 12 companies of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC).