VHP Sankalp Diwas rally: BJP MP, 24 others held

GONDA: BJP MP Yogi Adityanath and 24 others accompanying him to VHP's 'Sankalap Diwas' rally in Ayodhya, were today arrested at the railway station here as a preventive measure, police said.

The BJP MP from Gorakhpur and others were arrested ahead of today's rally, which has been banned by the Uttar Pradesh government, for violating the prohibitory orders, ADM Anjani Kumar Singh said.

Adityanath, BJP MP Satyadeo Singh, BJP's regional secretary Surya Narain Tiwari and others arrested have been kept at the Irrigation Department's field hostel here.

With the Muzaffarnagar riots fresh in mind, the Centre has asked the UP government to maintain status quo in Ayodha and prevent any attempt to flare up communal tension anywhere in the state.

The Home Ministry has told the UP authorities to observe status quo in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya as per the Supreme Court directive and not to allow any gathering near the disputed area.

Adityanath reached Gonda station from New Delhi, from where he was to leave for Ayodhya for the 'Sankalp Diwas' rally, when he was held.

UP police yesterday arrested around 340 people, including former BJP MLA Lalu Singh, and put 42 others under house arrest on the eve of the rally.

To prevent VHP activists from attending the rally, three-tier barriers have been put up on Saryu bridge, Faizabad district and Ayodhya, IG (law and order) R K Vishwakarma had said yesterday, and added that 2,000 jawans of RAF, police and PAC have been deployed in the area.

As a precautionary measure, the local administration has set up a temporary jail at the Police Line, the IG had said.

VHP has given a call to observe 'Sankalp Diwas' in Ram Sewak Puram in Ayodhya to take a resolve for launching an agitation for rebuilding the Ram temple in Ayodhya.