Dehra Dun, Sept 01: Nearly 50 Congress workers were arrested today when they tried to disturb a function of VHP general secretary Pravin Togadia in Rishikesh by showing black flags and raising slogans, police sources said. Togadia, who was in the holy town of Rishikesh in connection with the VHP's campaign on Ram temple, was shown black flags when he went to Triveni Ghat where the function was held.
In some parts of Rishikesh, Congress workers also burnt Togadia's effigies amidst cries of "communal Togadia go back". Congress sources said police resorted to a lathicharge on the party workers in Rishikesh. But police denied the charge.
"Reports regarding police lathicharge are wrong," DIG (crime) Anil Raturi said. However, no untoward incident was reported from any part of Rishikesh where Togadia also participated in a 'sankalp sutra' programme.
Addressing the gathering after the programme, Togadia called for a legislation for early construction of ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya.
He also said the VHP has been vindicated following the ASI's findings that a temple pre-existed the Babri mosque.
Meanwhile, VHP sources here said Togadia's programme tomorrow at Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh has been banned by the district authorities. Bureau Report