MP: Cong accuses BJP of 'obstructing' Ram Van Gaman Path yatra

The Congress in Madhya Pradesh Wednesday alleged the "Ram Van Gaman Path" yatra taken out by seers was stopped midway by Dindori district officials at the behest of the BJP on the basis of a "false complaint", a charge denied by the ruling party.

District officials, however, said the action was taken because the yatra was organised despite section 144 of CrPC (Prevention of unlawful assembly) being in force and for violation of the Model Code of Conduct in view of the assembly polls scheduled to be held on November 28.

State unit Congress vice president Abhay Dubey also claimed the district police even seized a chariot of Lord Ram, which was part of the yatra, on Tuesday.

The 'Ram Van Gaman Path Yatra' seeks to retrace the route taken by Lord Ram on his way to the 14-year exile, as per mythology.

Dubey said that the yatra was non-political in nature, as it was organised by seers.

"The yatra started from Chitrakoot on October 2 by the head trustee of Purana Lanka Ashram Harishankar Shukla. It was a non-political yatra. It was stopped in Shahpura town in Dindori district by the administration Tuesday," said Dubey at a press conference here.

He alleged that Shukla and other leaders were booked under various sections of the IPC and Representation of People Act under the "pressure from the BJP".

"Even the rath (chariot) of Lord Ram was seized by the police. The administration is working under the pressure from BJP leaders," he alleged.

The district officials had said that section 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the IPC was slapped on the religious leaders for violating the section 144 of CrpC.

However, Dubey said the procession was religious in nature and no material, like a flag, related to the Congress was used.

"Lord Ram had spent 12 out of 14 years of his exile in Madhya Pradesh. In 2007, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had announced to develop the 'Ram Path' in the state, but the BJP did not fulfill this promise," he said.

When contacted, state BJP spokesman Rajnish Agrawal said the yatra was organised by the Congress.

"The opposition party had even held a press conference to announce this procession. There must be some merit in the complaint (filed by a BJP leader) which forced the authorities to take action," he said.

During the yatra, appeals were made to people not to vote the BJP, said Agrawal.

The BJP has been accusing the Congress, which has been out of power since 2003, of playing the "soft Hindutva" card ahead of the elections.