 "VHP yatra row: Mulayam attempting to polarise Muslim votes, says Kalyan Singh")
Charging the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party (SP) Government with politicising the 'Chaurasi Kosi Parikrama yatra', former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh on Thursday alleged that Mulayam Singh Yadav wants to polarise Muslim votes in his favour.
Singh said the 'Parikrama yatra' is not at all political.
"It is a religious yatra, which will be taken out by the saints. Over 500 people will participate in it. Some saints and Vishwa Hindu Parishad leaders had met Mulayam Singh and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav a few days ago, the two had then said that there is no obstruction and we will make adequate security arrangements," Singh told media outside the Parliament here.
"Now, under whose pressure did they impose the ban on this yatra? The Constitution allows all religious to do their respective works. This is a religious Yatra and imposing ban on it means acting against the Constitution," he added.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader asked the Uttar Pradesh Government to rethink its decision and remove the ban imposed on this yatra.
Singh also lauded Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, saying the BJP's poll panel chief has become the heart of the nation.
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A delegation of Hindu saints led by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) international president Ashok Singhal had met Mulayam Singh Yadav earlier on Saturday, and asked him to convince Muslim leaders, clerics and ulemas to pave way for the construction of a Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya.
The saints had after the meeting which was also attended by Akhilesh Yadav claimed that the Samajwadi Party chief had accepted their request. They also said that they had asked Akhilesh Yadav to provide adequate support and security for the "Chaurasi Kosi Parikrama" (a religious march) in Ayodhya and adjoining districts beginning on August 25.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has 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 and put in place elaborate security arrangements by rushing in 10 companies of the Rapid Action Force (RSF) and 12 companies of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC).