Parikrama Yatra: Naresh Agarwal defends SP, criticises Congress and BJP

With the Akhilesh Yadav-led Uttar Pradesh Government drawing sharp criticism for imposing the ban on Vishwa Hindu Parishad's 'Chaurasi Kosi Parikrama Yatra', Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agarwal on Sunday took potshots at the ruling Congress Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), saying the two political outfits are responsible for the country's pathetic condition.

Agarwal alleged that the entire nation is closely monitoring the movements of the Congress and BJP in Parliament.

"In the 2014 Lok Sabha, the Samajwadi Party will hold a mirror in front of the people to show them the true faces of the Congress and the BJP," Agarwal said.

"The parties have made this country poor and hungry, have let the rupee decline, has allowed terrorism to grow and has put the country's security at risk along the borders. In the lead up to the elections, we will show the country all of this; we will show them that they are both two sides of the same coin," he added.

The Congress Party earlier in the day termed the ban of VHP's Yatra by the Samajwadi Party Government as an act of 'hand-in-glove'.

"I feel as if it's match fixing because the group talks about rally, the government is in Lucknow, the religious place is in Ayodhya. I think this whole group is on the side of BJP and the BJP is also completely in their favour," said Congress spokesperson Raj Babbar.

BJP leader M. Venkaiah Naidu today condemned VHP chief Ashok Singhal's arrest, and alleged that vote-bank politics is the main reason behind the Samajwadi Party (SP) Government's move to stop the 'Chaurasi Kosi Parikrama Yatra'.

"The BJP strongly condemns the action of Uttar Pradesh Government in arresting Ashok Singhalji, in detaining the sadhus and sants from taking out the yatra. India is a free country. People have got every right to move around, to take out yatra. You can regulate the yatra. How can you stop it?" asked Naidu.

"It is all being done keeping in mind only vote-bank politics," he added, while talking to media in Hyderabad.

With the VHP activists adamant to complete the Yatra, the Uttar Pradesh administration today said security arrangements would continue to check those trying to attend the banned yatra.

RK Vishwakarma, Inspector General, Law and Order, today informed that1,696 persons, including VHP President Ashok Singhal and Praveen Togadia, were arrested in a crackdown.

"The tight security arrangements will continue in the state to prevent those trying to attend VHP's yatra, which has not been recalled by it. In the state, 1,696 persons including Ashok Singhal and Praveen Togadia, have been arrested in the crackdown," said Vishwakarma.

Prominent among those arrested by the state police include Savitri Bai Phule, VHP's provincial coordinator Acharya Kushmuni and Mahant Santosh Das alias Sathu Baba, a VHP office bearer in Varanasi while prominent VHP leader Mahant Ram Saran Das was held at Ram Sanehi Ghat in Ayodhya.

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 Vishwa Hindu Parishad 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).