VHP: Massive Protest against ban on Parikrama Yatra

Revered Sants and Sadhus passed a unanimous resolution at Prayag Mahakumbh 2013 to construct a grand temple of Sri Ram at the birth place of Ram. They also passed a resolution at Haridwar 20-day Yatra programme between 25th August and 13th September, 2013, covering the scriptural/traditional spirituo-cultural boundary of Ayodhya which is also known as the 84-Kosi Parikrama.  84-Kosi Yatra is a tradition that has been there for thousands of years with the belief that it gives deliverance to the performer from the cycle of 84-Lakh Yonis.

It is their view that the circumambulation of a Teerthsthan (Ford of Liberation) in the country can be undertaken at any time of the year as any time is a good time for such a purpose – this they asserted as a rebuff to those uninformed ones who hold that ‘A Parikrama has a specific Tithi”. This tradition of all time Parikrama has been in vogue in the Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western and Central parts of Bharat for thousands of years. 

 

Surprised by the knee jerk reaction by the Uttar Pradesh Government not only to ban the 84 Kosi Parikrama Yaatra of Ayodhya by Sants, but also deploying so much security force in most parts of Uttar Pradesh, VHP expressed its displeasure and shock. Explaining the nature of the religious Parikrama Yaatra by Sants, VHP’s International Working President Dr Pravin Togadia said, “There are some simple and imp aspects of the 84 Kosi Ayodhya Parikrama Yaatra by Sants and looking at them, it is surprising and disgusting that Uttar Pradesh Govt slapped 144, banned religious Parikrama and already arrested over 100 Sants and VHP workers. These aspects are as follows:

The 84 Kosi Ayodhya Parikrama Yaatra by Sants (Saints) is a simple Pada Yaatra (walk on foot) as per the traditional Parikrama route and NOT an agitation or any type of political activity as is being projected by the state Govt and some media.         

The Parikrama Yaatra that will start from August 25, 2013 will end on Sept 13, 2013 and daily only 150 to 200 Sadhu-Sants will walk at Parikrama Yaatra points.   
There is absolutely no reason for the state govt to panic this way because it is a simple peaceful religious Parikrama Yaatra by limited number of Sadhu-Saints. “Dr Togadia further appealed all at Ayodhya, surrounding districts and in Bharat to treat this 84 Kosi Ayodhya Parikrama Yaatra by Sadhu – Sants as purely a religious pilgrimage and not as an agitation. He also appealed all to maintain peace and calm while following the religious Parikrama Yaatra democratically. He further said, “We, therefore, appeal the Uttar Pradesh Govt to respect the religious sentiments of Sadhu – Sants and  allow them to carry on the religious parikrama yaatra as scheduled rather than the Govt using high handed tactics like arresting Sadhu-Sants and VHP people. The state should instead respect Hindu religious sentiments and help Sadhu- Sants with water, clean route and medicines as by walking the feet may get hurt.” 

Crushing the dharmic feelings of Sant fraternity, UP Government has arrested Dr. Pravin Togadia and Sri Ashok Singhal who are supposed to lead the Kosi 84 Parikrama Yatra today.  

Condemning the ban on Yatra by UP Government VHP, RSS and Sangh Parivar Organizations has called for a massive protest all over the country tomorrow (26^th August 2013).  In Chennai, protest demo will be held in front of Collector Office at 11.00 a.m. A copy of Memorandum will be submitted to the Collector to be forwarded to the Rashtrapathi.