Ayodhya yatra; BJP indulged in hooliganism, says Mulayam

SP boss accuses BJP of playing vote bank politics

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Monday defended his party's decision to prevent the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) from going ahead with its 'Chaurasi Kosi Parikrama Yatra in Ayodhya.

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

He said that the Supreme Court had issued a directive that no action should be taken until a decision has been made.

"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.

Rejecting the Samajwadi Party charges, BJP MP Yogi Aditya Nath demanded that the Uttar Pradesh government be dismissed for its actions against Hindu priests.

"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.

Meanwhile, both the houses of Parliament were adjourned following noisy protests by the BJP and SP members over the Uttar Pradesh government's move to prevent the VHP's Ayodhya march.

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 flareup.

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).