Over 500 saints to protest BJP MP's arrest

Ayodhya, Feb 4 (UNI) Over 500 'sadhus' of this holy city will march to the riot-hit Gorkahpur tomorrow to protest the arrest of Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Yogi Adityanath.

Asharfi Bhawan Pithadhishwar Jagatguru Ramanujacharya here today said ''Over 500 'sadhus', including Mahant Govind Das and Ram Manohar Das, would gather at the Digambar Akhara and stage a demonstration. Later, we would march to Gorakhpur.'' A large number of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) activists would also take part in the march, he added.

''...Uttar Pradesh government is ''harassing'' the Hindus. It is truly anti-Muslim. Now, Hindus are aware and they would not tolerate the Muslim appeasement policy of Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav,'' he alleged.

Meanwhile, Mahant Suresh Das of Digambar Akhara threatened that they would hold a state-wide agitation if the BJP MP is not released soon and all allegations against him are taken back.

The BJP MP Yogi Adityanath was arrested for violating section 144 (prohibitory orders) in the riot racked Gorakhpur recently and was remanded into two week judicial custody by a court on February 2.

UNI