This Article is From Oct 13, 2011

On Day 3, Advani's rath yatra enters testing territory

On Day 3, Advani's rath yatra enters testing territory
Mughalsarai/New Delhi: Armed with last-minute permission, LK Advani took his rath to Mughalsarai in Uttar Pradesh last night and will hold a rally this morning. Day 3 of the BJP leader's 38-day yatra will test the waters for the BJP in Mayawati land.

Mr Advani's first rally in Uttar Pradesh had been planned at the Railway Training Institute ground belonging to the Indian Railways in Mughalsarai. Railways authorities earlier said they could not permit any political rally to be held on railway property.

The BJP, at a public announcement at the ground, said it would go ahead with its plans even without permission. The party blamed the Centre for using the Railways Ministry to prevent Mr Advani from connecting with the people.    

Permission from Dinesh Trivedi, Railways Minister, was faxed over shortly before 9 pm, just as the issue threatened to seize the status of a political flashpoint. Sources said the Railways rethink came as the Centre was worried the BJP would raise the pitch to its electoral advantage.  

Reacting to the development, Mr Advani said, "I came to know that permission had been denied. I didn't understand it. But then I came to know that permission had been granted...we had gotten late in the morning here but were determined to come here and send a message to the people of UP."

Mr Advani began his Jan Chetna Yatra, a tour aimed at fighting corruption, from Bihar on Tuesday. The UP leg has huge significance, not just because the state votes soon and the BJP is desperate to improve its performance here, but also because of Mr Advani's "Ayodhya politics". In 1990, Mr Advani undertook the Ram Rath Yatra to build up support for the construction of a Ram Mandir at the disputed site in Ayodhya. Many blame that tour for generating the communal fervour that led to the destruction of the Babri Masjid.
The BJP's most prolific yatri will not go to Ayodhya this time.

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