Mulayam says 'SP always had to fight against divisive forces'

Yadav's comment comes in the backdrop of the Akhilesh Yadav-led UP government imposing a ban on the VHP's 'Sankalp Diwas' in Ayodhya today

Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav on Friday said those attempting to flare-up communal tension in Uttar Pradesh will never be successful.

"The Samajwadi Party always had to fight against forces trying to divide the people. They won't succeed, we are alert," he told media here.

Yadav's comment comes in the backdrop of the Akhilesh Yadav-led Uttar Pradesh Government imposing a ban on the Vishwa Hindu Parishad's 'Sankalp Diwas' in Ayodhya today.

The Samajwadi Party Government has drawn sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over this decision.

Condemning the ban, BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar today said the Uttar Pradesh Government has taken such a step keeping vote bank politics in mind.

Undeterred by the ban, the VHP has said that it will go ahead with its proposed 'Sankalp Diwas' to take a resolve for launching an agitation for rebuilding the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

VHP spokesperson Prakash Sharma today criticized the state government for thwarting the 'Sankalp Diwas' yatra.

"The programme will be held as scheduled. The government has tried several times earlier to exercise its power. If it wants to do the same at this time, it can. The government should be asked as to why they have stopped this," he said.

Sharma further said the VHP has never encouraged any kind of communal feud.

"Do Hindus have no right to hold their cultural rallies?" he asked.

Heavy security arrangements are in place in the temple city. Security has been also tightened along Uttar Pradesh's borders with Bihar and Jharkhand and even Madhya Pradesh.

The state government has arrested more than 1,500 VHP activists in different parts of the state who were trying to reach the temple city of Ayodhya for the 'Sankalp Diwas' programme today.

The police arrested BJP MP Yogi Adityanath today from Gonda with his supporters while he was trying to proceed to Ayodhya. Nearly 1200 VHP activists have been taken into custody from Karsevak Puram, Digambar Akhara and Hanuman Garhi of Ayodhya.

Around 2,000 personnel of the Rapid Action Force and the Provincial Armed Constabulary have been deployed to help the local police maintain law and order.

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

The decision has been taken, according to reports, in view of security concerns, especially after the recent communal clashes in Muzaffarnagar and the surrounding areas.