Lucknow, Oct 18: Accusing the Uttar Pradesh government of "committing atrocities on peaceful Ram bhakts" heading towards Ayodhya, state BJP today demanded an unconditional apology from the Mulayam Singh Yadav government. "A meeting of senior party leaders and office bearers held here today deliberated on the developments in UP as a run up to VHP's 'sankalp' programme and felt that Yadav has repeated his acts of 1990 by harassing Ram bhakts," state BJP spokesman Hriday Narain Dixit told reporters.

"The party is of the view that by adopting repressive measures against the peaceful Ram Bhakts, Yadav has only followed his appeasement policy and vitiated the atmosphere for which he should tender an apology to the people of the state," he said.
Dixit claimed that over one lakh people today assembled in Ayodhya to take part in the "peaceful programme" of VHP there belying the chief minister's contention that heavy rush of Ram bhakts would create a serious law and order problem in the temple town.

Those who were present in today's party meeting held at the BJP headquarters included state president Vinay Katiyar and senior leader Kalraj Misra.
Bureau Report