Heavy security deployment in Ayodhya on the eve of the planned VHP yatraAyodhya yatra: VHP leaders go underground
However, the party's Lallu Singh, who was MLA from Ayodhya for 21 years continuously before losing in 2012, has been involved in hectic preparations for the past 15 days. An aspirant for the Faizabad Lok Sabha constituency ticket this time, Singh has been holding meetings every day with the BJP mandal presidents and VHP leaders over movement of saints at the Naya Ghat of Saryu river and Makhauda, from where the yatra is to be formally launched after a havan and a public meeting.
While Singh could not be reached for comment, the BJP Faizabad district president, Ram Krishna Tiwari, said, "Lallu Singh and other party workers are making preparations for the yatra. They are holding meetings regarding arrival of saints, their stay in Ayodhya and other religious rituals."
In New Delhi, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj called the VHP's proposed yatra "a fundamental right of a citizen". "Tension is being created by statements about the yatra," she said. She also rejected the charge that the controversy was part of a pact between the ruling Samajwadi Party and opposition BJP to polarise sentiments in the run-up to Lok Sabha elections.
Ayodhya Yatra: Faizabad shut for VHP men
The VHP has declared that it will take out the parkirama through six districts, including Faizabad, Basti, Gonda, Bahraich, Barabanki and Ambedkar Nagar. Muslims comprise around 20 per cent of the population in these districts whereas more than 45 per cent voters are from backward castes.
"The BJP expects to get back backward castes votes through the hype that 84-kosi parkirama gets," admitted a BJP leader.
The police arrested 339 VHP workers and saints from different parts of the state Saturday in order to prevent their movement to Ayodhya. BJP Bahraich MLA Savitri Bai Phule and some sadhus have been put under house arrest in their ashrams, said IG (Law & Order) R K Vishwakarma.
Related: Akhilesh govt says no to VHP's Ayodhya parikrama
BJP Yuva Morcha state vice-president Rakesh Srivastava also confirmed the party's participation, saying: "We are ready to take the battle to the administration." He added that "workers of the Yuva Morcha are working in Ayodhya and adjoining districts. We have to reach Makhaura Sunday morning and ensure that the sadhus start the yatra safely".
As per the VHP plan, the sadhus would be in Gonda district for the parikrama on September 9 and 10. A BJP office-bearer said they were making preparations for the stay of the sadhus there in temples and ashrams.
Basti district president Laxmi Prasad Shukla also said the priority of party workers was to reach Makhaura at any cost Sunday morning. "That yatra is after all in the interest of the BJP," he said. The BJP lost from the Basti Lok Sabha seat in 2009 and 2004, after having won it successively earlier.
In Ambedkar Nagar too, where the scheduled dates of the yatra are August 28 and 29, the BJP is fully participating. "We have been asked to help in the arrangements," said district president Ram Prakash Yadav. While Ambedkar Nagar is adjacent to Ayodhya, the BJP has never won a Lok Sabha election from here.
BJP spokesperson for Gorakhpur region Satyendra Singh said regional president Upendra Nath Shukla, vice-president Durga Rai and Kameshwar Singh left for Ayodhya Saturday with other workers to take part in the padyatra.
To rule out any untoward incidents, Uttar Pradesh DGP Deo Raj Nagar and ADG (Law & Order) Arun Kumar reached Ayodhya Saturday morning and are camping there. They held a meeting with SPs of Faizabad and adjacent districts and also checked security arrangements. Police presence has been beefed up in the districts, including deployment of two SPs, 19 additional SPs and 42 deputy SPs. Also deployed are 23 companies and two platoons of the PAC, and nine companies of the Rapid Action Force.
source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/across-districts-vhp-yatra-shows-a-clear-bjp-hand/1159793/0
