Govt action adds charm to VHP yatra

UP unenthusiastic about Ayodhya programme, only 2,000 'bhakts' join in

The "Ram sankalp" ceremony, scheduled in Ayodhya tomorrow, acquired the dimensions of a resistance movement in a war, but there was little impact of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) mobilisation on the rest of the Uttar Pradesh.

In Ayodhya, the security forces were put on high alert, all VHP offices in the district were raided, 400 more workers were arrested and searches were on in temples to arrest hiding VHP activists and their leaders.

However, there was negligible impact of the movement elsewhere in the state, suggesting that it was a drama limited to Ayodhya.

The district administration justified the measures in Ayodhya as part of the Supreme Court order that Section 144 should be imposed in the town.

Over 6,000 VHP workers were arrested from Aligarh and other cities and sent to makeshift jails as they moved towards Ayodhya.

Former MP Ram Vilas Vendati's house on the banks of the river Saryu was surrounded by the security forces, but he gave them a slip and from an underground location informed news agencies that the "sankalp" ceremony venue would be moved to an undisclosed destination.

Additional district magistrate Sudhakar Adeeb said the pandal put up at Ramsevakpuram, venue of the VHP meet, was removed last night and PAC jawans had been stationed there.

However, the response to the "sankalp yatra" in the rest of the state was less than enthusiastic, with a small crowd of 2,000 workers coming to Ayodhya.

The state administration's response seems to have bestowed some glamour on an event that would have fizzled out.

VHP leaders said they would foil the administration's "disruptive tactics" and will change the venue.

"The venue and timing of the sankalp meeting could be changed in view of the crackdown by the district administration," Vedanti said.

"Thousands of Rambhakts will appear on the streets of Ayodhya tomorrow and take sankalp (vow) to construct the Ram temple," he claimed.

However, apprehensive of the poor response, VHP leaders added that tomorrow's programme could be "symbolic" and continue till October 30. VHP vice-president Ashok Singhal is reported to be underground to avoid arrest, but the VHP said he would conduct the puja tomorrow.

UP Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav has said "Rambhakts" would not be fired at if they stayed out of the disputed area around the temple, even as VHP leaders declared that on taking the pledge workers would move towards the makeshift temple to have the "darshan" of Lord Ram.

Interestingly, BJP chief M Venkiah Naidu defended some of the state government's actions.

"The state government has the right to regulate the people going to participate in the programme. The VHP has a greater responsibility to ensure that there is better co-ordination," he said.

Asked whether there was any understanding between the BJP and Samajwadi Party, he said, "There is no understanding at all between us. We are at the Centre and the SP is in the state. In a democracy, we have to work together and this kind of working relationship between the Centre and the state has to be there."