No stepping back, yatra on: Singhal

Despite the state government ban, the 84 Kosi Yatra of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) would be taken out as per the schedule, said VHP’s international patron Ashok Singhal on Thursday.

Interacting with the media here, Singhal said the saints’ community as well as the VHP were not ready to step back from the yatra scheduled from August 25.

Referring to his nearly two-hour discussion with Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav on the issue recently, Singhal said, “I have assured the SP supremo that the yatra would be taken out peacefully. But it was on the direction of his cabinet minister and senior party leader Azam Khan that the government has imposed a ban on it.”

“Will the government shoot the saints or arrest them? Let us see how they stop us,” said Singhal.

On being asked that could section 144 in Ayodhya deter people from participating in the yatra, Singhal, referring to the 1992 Babri demolition, said: “The people reached Ayodhya in 1992 despite all hurdles, so will they this time too.”

Claiming Lord Ram’s blessings were behind Narendra Modi gaining strength from Lord Ram, Singhal stated that the Lord Ram’s power was working inside Modi due to which the Gujarat chief minister had gained popularity all over the country in a short span.

The VHP international patron also announced holding a seminar on the banks of Saryu river in Ayodhya on October 18, wherein the saints as well as public with water of Saryu river in their hands will take a pledge for getting the Ram temple made.

On the same day, apart from Uttar Pradesh, programmes in support of Ram Temple would be held all over the country.

Singhal was in town for immersion of his younger brother Vivek Singhal’s ashes in Sangam.