13 Nov 2002
EC BANS VHP YATRA IN GUJARAT
From
Jal Khambata
NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on
Wednesday banned the proposed VHP Yatra from Friday for reviving
memories of the Godhra train burning and directed the Gujarat
Government to take legal steps and send to jail anybody violating the
ban to prevent any communal buldup.
The order was passed
prohibiting the Yatra after Gujarat's Home Secretary Nityanandan
submitted a report to the Commission in response to a directive given
by Chief Election Commissioner James Lyngdoh for a report on the
VHP's proposed Yatra during his visit to Ahmedabad on Monday.
"The
Commission has noted with utmost concern the report of state
administration in Gujarat conveying that there is every likelihood of
communal tension and passion getting exacerbated by the proposed
yatra planned by VHP from November 15," the Commission in a
press note said.
The Election Commission said the state
administration should adopt strongest measures to ensure nobody is
allowed to create tension that affects the upcoming Assembly
elections in Gujarat. In its report, the Gujarat Government had
pointed out that the VHP Yatra may not only raise the communal
tension but there was possibility of even riots. END