VHP Yatra ban: Politics of 'appeasement' by UP government, says Uma Bharti

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Uma Bharti on Tuesday criticised the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party for banning the proposed Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Sankalp Diwas Yatra, and alleged that the Samajwadi Party was indulging in votebank politics in the lead-up to the 2014 general elections.

""This is the politics of appeasement by Uttar Pradesh government. And for the vote bank of one particular community, they indulge in such activities. This will not affect Vishwa Hindu Parishad in anyway," Bharti said in Chhatarpur.

Meanwhile, Janata Dal (United) leader K.C. Tyagi welcomed the Uttar Pradesh government's decision to ban the yatra, and said that he was also of the view that the rally would dissect the people along religious lines.

""The rally of Vishwa Hindu Parishad is to create communal tensions in the state and not for the setting up of Rama temple. It is a rally to break the brotherhood of the society and such rallies should not be given permission at all. I welcome the decision of the Uttar Pradesh government," Tyagi said in New Delhi.

The Samajwadi Party Government has banned VHP's 'Sankalp Diwas' fearing a communal flare-up.

The decision was reportedly taken in view of security concerns, especially after the recent communal clashes in Muzaffarnagar and the surrounding areas.

The VHP has given a call to observe ' Sankalp Diwas' in Ram Sewak Puram in Ayodhya to take a resolve for launching an agitation for rebuilding the Ram Temple.