Ayodhya, Oct 12: Widening the crackdown ahead of VHP's proposed meeting here on October 17, UP government today arrested more than 1000 people heading for the temple town even as Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav demanded more security and sought PM's help in resolving the impending "crisis". Vajpayee, back from a foreign tour, told reporters in Delhi that VHP should be trusted in its claim that it would hold the meeting peacefully even as the state government sought 100 companies of paramilitary personnel from the Centre to check VHP activists and Yadav attacked the Sangh Parivar for trying to destabilise his government.
At least 12 companies of CRPF were diverted from Jammu and Kashmir to Ayodhya. "Para-military forces have started reaching Lucknow and by tomorrow we will have sufficient force to control VHP activists," UP Chief Secretary Akhand Pratap Sing told reporters in Lucknow. The state administration has sealed all routes leading to Ayodhya, diverted trains coming here and stopped movement of buses in the twin city of Faizabad-Ayodhya and all possible means are being used to stop congregation of Ram bhakts, said Divisional Commissioner of Faizabad, J P Sharma.
A report from Jhansi said 1,037 Ram bhakts were detained at Jhansi railway station since last night. Of them 150 were women and 15 children.
Personnel of Rapid Action Force, CRPF and PAC have already been deployed in strength at Hanumangarhi, Ram Janambhoomi complex, Kanak Bhavan Temple, the borders and other areas of the district where prohibitory orders are in force till this month end in view of the VHP programme.
District magistrate Deepak Kumar said there was no restriction on entry of common people to the temple city and they were being allowed after thorough checking.
In Lucknow, Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav said since a major portion of the acquired land at Ayodhya was under the control of the Union government, the Centre was equally responsible for protecting it. "I appeal to the Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and Minister of State for Home Affairs Swami Chinmayanand to help me to resolve the crisis arisen following a call given VHP to hold meeting at Ayodhya on October 17," he told reporters.
He said the Prime Minister should use his good offices to placate VHP leadership to withdraw the proposed meet.
Yadav, however, said his government was determined to thwart any move by VHP and its associates to create communal tension in the state.
"The high court has asked the state government to maintain status quo at the disputed site at Ayodhya. Specific directions have been issued to the district administration to implement the court order in letter and spirit," the Chief Minister said.
Yadav, however, blamed Swami Chinmayanand for "leading the proposed VHP campaign".
"This act of the minister is a blatant violation of the oath taken by him," Yadav said adding that he would lodge a complaint against the minister with the Prime Minister.
"It is shameful that a Union minister is in the forefront of preparing the strategy of the VHP programme," Yadav said.
The Chief Minister also alleged that the BJP, its sister organisations, the RSS and the VHP, were trying to destabilise his government.
Meanwhile, preparations were on at VHP's headquarters here at Karsevakpuram for religious sermons by dharmacharyas beginning Monday. A massive 'pandal' was erected for the meeting of Ram bhakts at Naya Ghat which, VHP media in-charge Sharad Sharma said, could be used as an alternative for the October 17 programme. Bureau Report