Uma Bharti backs VHP, alleges 'Samajwadi Party an expert in vote bank politics'

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Uma Bharti on Sunday alleged that the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party (SP) Government has always indulged in vote bank politics, and accused it of creating hype about the VHP's yatra.

"Samajwadi Party is an expert in turning everything into vote bank politics. They played vote bank politics out of Durga Shakti Nagpal's case as well citing that she demolished a wall of a mosque. This is the only party that I have seen that consistently indulges in vote bank politics despite repeated criticism," she told media here today.

"The entire hype about this yatra has been created by the Samajwadi Party by banning it and claiming that they won't let it happen. I would just say that there is still time and the yatra should be facilitated and all arrangements must be made," she added.

Earlier in the day, VHP President Ashok Singhal and senior leader Praveen Togadia were detained by the police, along with 500 activists across Uttar Pradesh.

Togadia was arrested when he defied prohibitory orders in Ayodhya and attempted to conduct prayers on the banks of the Saryu river, after the Uttar Pradesh government had banned the yatra, while Singhal was detained at the Lucknow airport.

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 on Saturday dismissed a plea for allowing 84-Kosi parikrama yatra, stating that there is a possibility of tension, and added that the restriction will be maintained.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad had 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.