Lucknow:
The massive crackdown by the Uttar Pradesh government notwithstanding, a defiant Vishwa Hindu Parishad chief Ashok Singhal today asked the state government to review its decision of banning the controversial yatra saying it could not be stopped now with saints from across the country reaching Ayodhya soon.
The VHP leader was arrested at Lucknow's Chowdhury Charan Singh airport as soon as he landed there to participate in the Chaurasi Kos Parikrama Yatra at Ayodhya, a procession planned to revive the Ram temple issue ahead of the 2014 general elections.
Among the other arrested today were senior VHP leader Praveen Togadia, ex-BJP Member of Parliament Ram Vilas Vedanti and former Ayodhya MLA Lallu Singh who were all sent to 14-day judicial custody to stop them from participating in the yatra, scheduled to continue until September 13.
In protest against the arrests, the VHP has decided to hold demonstrations across the country tomorrow, including at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
The Uttar Pradesh government said security arrangements would continue to check those trying to attend the banned yatra even as almost 1700 people were arrested across the state. In addition to the state police force, 11 companies of the Rapid Action Force and 12 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force have been deployed.
Temporary jails have been set up in the districts of Faizabad, Barabanki, Bahraich, Basti, Gonda and Ambedkarnagar which fall on the yatra route.