No govt has right to play with sentiments of pilgrims:VHP

Allahabad, Jan 13 (UNI) The Vishswa Hindu Parishad (VHP) today warned both the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) at the Centre and Uttar Pradesh governments not to play with the sentiments of people, who have thronged the tent city of Prayag to participate in the world's largest religious tempest -- Ardh Kumbh Mela.

Talking to mediapersons, VHP General Secretary Praveen Bhai Togadia said here it was the responsibility of the government to provide clean water in Ganga. ''It is the duty of the state government to maintain the purity of the rivers in their respective areas. The government should instruct factories to install treatment plants and if any one does not follow the orders, his licence must be cancelled.'' ''Hindus worship the Ganga as 'Maa'. They have deep faith in 'Gangaji'. I feel shame to say that it is polluted. It is a conspiracy hatched by the goverments to destroy Hindu 'teerths' (pilgrimages),'' Mr Togadia alleged.

Talking to mediapersons at another press conference, former Union Minister of State for Home Swami Chinmaya Nand said the purity of the 'Gangajal' must be maintained at all costs. This year, the pollution in the river is clearly visible.

''It seems there is no coordination between the UP, Uttrakhand and Union government on the issue of Ganga-pollution. '' It was a direct ''attack'' on the faith of the Hindus,'' he alleged.

He warned the governments not to take the tolerance of Hindus for granted. The governments have not yet understood the feelings of crores of Hindus.

UNI