Ahmedabad, Feb 21: VHP would observe February 27, the first anniversary of Godhra train carnage, as "sankalp divas" (resolution day) and distribute "trishuls" (trident) to youth activists all over Gujarat, a top VHP leader said today. "February 27 will be observed as `sankalp divas' and prayer meetings and commemorative programmes will be held throughout the state in memory of all the Ram Sevaks who were killed in the Godhra carnage last year on that day", state VHP joint-general secretary Jaideep Patel told a news agency here. "Hundreds of trishuls are expected to be distributed throughout the state as vhp has just successfully completed distributing 700 of the `weapon-cum-symbolic objects' in Patan district and almost the same number in Visnagar town of Mehsana district. They were also distributed in many other states across the country during the last one month", Patel said. `Trishul disha', a symbolic programme of VHP, has been going on unhurdled since 1985, Patel claimed.
The VHP had attempted a string of programmes and protests this year including the 'padapadshahi yatra' where its activists led by acharya Dharmendra and Togadia were to march from Godhra to Gandhinagar just prior to the assembly polls in the state. However, they did not reach Godhra and courted arrested in Ahmedabad itself.

Bureau Report