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VHP programme fizzles out; Singhal conducts symbolic meeting
Ayodhya, Oct 17: The much touted VHP sponsored congregation here for Ram temple campaign fizzled out today after police foiled the programme by sealing the temple town and preventing its activists from gathering at the Ramsevakpuram, the venue of the proposed assembly.
Ayodhya, Oct 17: The much touted VHP sponsored congregation here for Ram temple campaign fizzled out today after police foiled the programme by sealing the temple town and preventing its activists from gathering at the Ramsevakpuram, the venue of the proposed assembly.
Though by and large the town and the rest of the state remained peaceful, Karsevakpuram, the complex housing VHP`s cental office, witnessed a police lathicharge and firing of rubber bullets when angry cadres clashed with police in the morning after their leader Ashok Singhal was arrested.
Before scheduled start of the `Sankalp sabha` (assembly for taking pledge) police also rounded up another senior VHP leader Ram Vilas Vedanti and a few thousand activists and ferried them outside Faizabad effectively foiling their plans.
Angry over the police action, VHP gave a call for Bharat bandh on October 19 in "protest against police atrocities on the Ram bhakts". After his release, Singhal conducted a symbolic `Sankalp sabha` at Karsevakpuram in the presence of over 1000 activists from difference states, VHP sources said.
An elated Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister later said his government has passed the `agni pariksha` (trial by fire) when it foiled the plans of "communal forces" to disrupt peace and praised the Centre for cooperation in handling the VHP programme.
He told reporters in Lucknow that he has ordered the release of over 30,000 vhp activists, including Singhal.
Police made lathi charge, fired tear gas shells and also fired rubber bullets to control about 2000 VHP activists after they allegedly attacked the police with sticks and also subjected them to heavy stone pelting.
Several cadres received injuries in the police action, VHP sources here claimed.
Singhal accused the chief minister of "using the Central forces to persecute and beat the innocent karsevaks". He demanded that they be withdrawn forthwith.
He also refused to leave Karsevakpuram saying that he would not go anywhere until all the activists present in Ayodhya were allowed to have `darshan` of the Ram lalla at the makeshift temple.
Singhal said that time had come for enacting a legislation for the construction of the Ram temple.
He accused the Inspector General of Police V N Rai of "resorting to intimidatory measures to suppress the peaceful programme of the VHP".
Bureau Report
Before scheduled start of the `Sankalp sabha` (assembly for taking pledge) police also rounded up another senior VHP leader Ram Vilas Vedanti and a few thousand activists and ferried them outside Faizabad effectively foiling their plans.
Angry over the police action, VHP gave a call for Bharat bandh on October 19 in "protest against police atrocities on the Ram bhakts". After his release, Singhal conducted a symbolic `Sankalp sabha` at Karsevakpuram in the presence of over 1000 activists from difference states, VHP sources said.
An elated Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister later said his government has passed the `agni pariksha` (trial by fire) when it foiled the plans of "communal forces" to disrupt peace and praised the Centre for cooperation in handling the VHP programme.
He told reporters in Lucknow that he has ordered the release of over 30,000 vhp activists, including Singhal.
Police made lathi charge, fired tear gas shells and also fired rubber bullets to control about 2000 VHP activists after they allegedly attacked the police with sticks and also subjected them to heavy stone pelting.
Several cadres received injuries in the police action, VHP sources here claimed.
Singhal accused the chief minister of "using the Central forces to persecute and beat the innocent karsevaks". He demanded that they be withdrawn forthwith.
He also refused to leave Karsevakpuram saying that he would not go anywhere until all the activists present in Ayodhya were allowed to have `darshan` of the Ram lalla at the makeshift temple.
Singhal said that time had come for enacting a legislation for the construction of the Ram temple.
He accused the Inspector General of Police V N Rai of "resorting to intimidatory measures to suppress the peaceful programme of the VHP".
Bureau Report