Fiery 'sanyasin' to work for BJP's return to power

Varanasi, Apr 13 (UNI) A band of sadhus and sanyasis led by fiery voice of Ram temple movement Sadhvi Ritambhara will tour across Eastern Uttar Pradesh to ensure that Kalyan Singh-led BJP returns to power with a clear majority in the state.

''Kalyan Singh is an icon of Hindutva and the hero of Ram temple movement for the VHP. His commitment to the cause of Ram temple construction at Ayodhya is unflinching as ever,'' VHP Kashi Prant organizing secretary Manoj Srivastava told UNI here today.

A series of roadshows and over 100 public meetings in 67 assembly constituencies in East UP districts is planned between April 15 and April 30 under the ambitious 'Hindu Ekta Yatra' of the saffron outfit.

The Yatra will start from Varanasi on April 15 next and forms part of the VHP's effort to consolidate votes in favour of Kalyan Singh-led BJP through the formation of a Hindu Voters Forum.

''The forum and the Yatra is an attempt by the VHP to prevent the split in Hindu votes on caste lines and instead unite them to ensure victory of pro-Hindutva candidates having confidence in Kalyan Singh's leadership,'' Mr Srivastava maintained.

The fortnight-long trek will be spearheaded by Sadhivi Ritambhara, one of the two fiery female voices of the Ram temple movement, firebrand MP from Gorakhpur Yogi Adityanath, Swami Narendranand Saraswati and Swami Vasudevanand Saraswati and diminutive VHP leader Ramkamal Das Vedanti.

The trek will start from Bharat Mata Temple in Varanasi on April 15 and culminate on that very spot on April 30, three days ahead of polls in the 67 constituencies of East UP.

Sadhvi Ritambhara, also a religious preacher, had plunged into religious discourses and preaching since the 1992 Ram Temple movement and her return to the VHP fold for BJP's cause is a significant indicator of the BJP using the saffron platform to ricochet into power in politically crucial UP.

UNI