VHP files petition seeking lifting of ban on Togadia's entry

Vishwa Hindu Parishad today said it has filed a petition in the Karnataka High Court seeking lifting of the ban on entry of its leader Praveen Togadia to attend a convention here from February five to 11.
"I have moved the High Court seeking lifting of the ban imposed by the city police on Togadia's entry into the city for attending an event," VHP Organising Secretary of Karnataka unit, Keshav Hegde said here.
He said the matter may come up for hearing tomorrow.
Togadia was scheduled to take part in the VHP convention 'Hindu Viraat Samavesha' on February 8.
The city police had imposed prohibitory orders banning Togadia's entry on grounds of maintenance of law and order.

The police contended that his "provocative and inflammatory" speeches would have "grave" consequences and there was likelihood of breach of peace.

Hegde, in his petition, said Togadia on earlier occasions had attended eight such conventions in the state, and not a single instance of law and order was reported from anywhere.
Challenging the police contention, Hegde submitted that all court cases against Togadia for making alleged inflammatory speeches have been disposed of.
He said the Constitution has given right of freedom of expression to the citizens and hence, Togadia cannot be banned from entering the city and attending the convention.

The police had contended that provocative and inflammatory speeches of Togadia would have sufficiently grave consequences and there was every likelihood of breach of peace, danger to human life and disturbance of the public tranquility and communal harmony in the city.
They had also said 19 criminal cases were registered against Togadia all over the country for allegedly making inflammatory statements and showing disrespect to the Constitution.