Writ petition against BJP yatras filed in HC

New Delhi, Mar 22: Apprehending communal hatred in the country, a voluntary agency today filed a petition in the Delhi High Court seeking direction to stop the 'rath yatras' by BJP leaders L K Advani and Rajnath Singh from Dwarka and Puri respectively from April 6.

''The proposed yatras are likely to incite the communal feelings amongst the Hindus, Muslims and other minority communities in the country and expose them to the hatred, which led to the Gujarat riots,'' said the petition filed by the Indian National Sikh Youth Forum.

The petition filed by Counsel Naval Kishor Jha sought the direction of the court to former Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and BJP President Rajnath Singh to desist from proceeding with the proposed yatras which would pass through many states inciting people to fight against one another.

The yatra is also in violation of the model code of conduct in force in some states going to polls, said the petition filed by Forum President Tinkle Singh Bindra.

Making Mr Advani, Mr Singh, Secretary Ministry of Home Affairs, Secretary Ministry of Law and Secretary Parliamentary Affairs as party of respondents, the petition said, ''The proposed rath yatras would not achieve any purpose for the general public except exposing them to further hatred and isolation.'' The party was losing its base and had been looking for some means for revival. The party was trying to capitalise on the recent bomb blsts in Varanasi, the temple city, the petition said.

UNI