Tight security arrangements have been made for Bharatiya Janata Party president Rajnath Singh's yatra, beginning Thursday, with the party chief hitting the road from Bhubaneswar after paying obeisance to Lord Jagannath in the pilgrim city of Puri.
"We are waiting for the launching of the ('Bharat Suraksha') yatra Thursday. BJP Chief Ministers Arjun Munda and Raman Singh (of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh) and Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar Sushil Kumar Modi will accompany the party president," Orissa BJP president Jual Oram said.
"The leaders will seek blessings at Puri Jagannath temple and drive to the capital city," he said.
Inspector General of Police B B Mishra said, "Rajnath Singh would get security cover as per the Z category specifications. We have asked the district superintendents of police to take care of the yatra in their areas."
Commenting on the All India Students' Federation decision to oppose the yatra, Oram said, "Let them gather courage to oppose us, we are ready for any eventuality."
Mishra said the police were aware of the AISF's threat to stage demonstrations against the yatra.
The BJP president will cover a total of 633 km in the state over a three-day period, addressing 13 rallies. Rajnath's first public meeting will be in Bhubaneswar.
Party sources said the Sangh Parivar made last minute "adjustments" in the yatra schedule to ensure there is "no interference" with an RSS yatra which would continue till April 8.