New Delhi, Oct 14: Strongly condemning VHP's declaration that any attempt to stop its activists from congregating at Ayodhya could lead to communal riots, Left parties today supported the action of the Mulayam Singh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh against the saffron outfit's activists. "This is nothing but an open challenge to the rule of law and the constitution," CPI(M) polit bureau said in a statement here and asked the Centre to provide all assistance to Uttar Pradesh for maintaining status quo at the disputed site in Ayodhya.

It said while the Mulayam Singh Yadav government was taking preventive measures to ensure implementation of the Supreme Court directive, the Prime Minister's appeal to the Chief Minister to allow the VHP workers to proceed to Ayodhya, since they have promised to remain peaceful, is "both dubious and dangerous."

In another state, CPI said that the "intentions" of VHP had become clear with its leader declaring that communal riots would erupt if they were prevented from visiting Ayodhya and arrested.
It said that the Chief Minister had rightly appealed to the Prime Minister to use his good offices to impress upon VHP not to create any strife, but the Prime Minister in turn told him to trust the VHP.

"One has to recall that VHP gave similar assurances to the then prime minister in 1992 and later on carried out the demolition of Babri Masjid," the party said and asked if anyone could trust VHP.
Bureau Report