VHP vows to defy UP govt's ban on 'Sankalp Diwas'

A day after the Uttar Pradesh government banned its proposed 'Sankalp Diwas' rally, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad on Tuesday vowed to go ahead with its programme even as the district administration said it was determined to thwart any such plan.

"Our activists in thousands are reaching the venue from all over Uttar Pradesh. We are ready for a confrontation with the state government," senior VHP leader and convener of the rally Ram Vilas Vedanti said.

The VHP was determined to hold its rally and "the ban order doesn't matter us," he said.

Talking tough, the Faizabad district administration said it was taking all necessary steps to stop VHP activists from reaching the venue. "We will not allow a single VHP activist to enter the Faizabad-Ayodhya to take part in the rally," District Magisttrate Vipin Kumar Dwivedi told PTI.

"Borders will be sealed and all roads leading to Faizabad-Ayodhya will be blocked to prevent VHP members from reaching Faizabad," he said.

The ban would be implemented strictly, the DM said.      

After clamping down on the '84-Kosi Parikrama Yatra' in August, the UP government on Monday banned the VHP's 'Sankalp Diwas' stir proposed to be held on the banks of Saryu river in Ayodhya on October 18 to press for a legislation on building a Ram temple.