RJD, SP, Congress criticise VHP`s Ayodhya yatra plans

Rashtriya Janata Dal, Samajwadi Party and Congress members joined hands in the Lok Sabha to attack BJP and Sangh Parivar.

New Delhi: Rashtriya Janata Dal, Samajwadi Party and Congress members on Saturday joined hands in the Lok Sabha to attack BJP and Sangh Parivar outfits on VHP`s plans to hold yatra from Ayodhya Sunday.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Prabhunath Singh (RJD) asked the Centre to intervene saying VHP`s plans "supported by BJP" were not good for communal harmony in the country. He said political parties supporting the yatra should be derecognised. This led to a heated exchange between members of BJP and RJD. SP members supported their RJD counterparts. Dara Singh Cahuhan (BSP) said the yatra was a case of "shadow boxing" between BJP and SP, which is ruling Uttar Pradesh. Shailendra Kumar (SP) said "some groups and political parties" were trying to divide the country on lines of religion. "There should be a ban on using Lord Rama`s name for political gains...The Government of India should ensure a ban on such things," he said, as BJP members protested. Jagdambika Pal (Congress) said it is not a religious yatra but a political one. PTI