The Vishwa Hindu Parishad is undeterred by the lack of public support to its recent 84 kosi parikrama and is now planning a panch kosi parikrama in Ayodhya from September 22. VHP’s international general secretary Champat Rai has said that saints who had missed out on the 84 kosi parikrama due to inclement weather and the clampdown by the state government would now undertake panch kosi parikrama in Ayodhya from September 22 to October 13.
According to the VHP leader, “We will have at least one saint every day from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka or Andhra Pradesh who will be assisted by nearly 100 saffron cadres in the temple town participating in the Parikrama.” The recent 84 kosi parikrama from August 25 to September 13 had been banned by the state government which felt that the saffron brigade intended to stoke communal passions through the yatra. The VHP had admitted that the exercise was for the temple cause but insists that the government cannot prevent saints from pursuing religious practices and rituals.
Meanwhile, a home department official said that the state government would take a decision on the yatra in view of the prevailing situation in the state. “After the Muzaffarnagar riots, we cannot take chances and permission for any such event will be given only if the government is confident that it will not create a communal divide,” the official said.