Swami Laxmananda buried, so no question of yatra: Togadia

Nagpur, Sep 4 (UNI) Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) International General Secretary Praveen Togadia today said there was no question of taking out a yatra with the ashes of Swami Laxmananda Saraswati, as the pontiff was buried and not cremated.

Speaking to reporters here, Mr Togadia said Swami Laxmananda was laid to rest in keeping with the tradition among 'sanyasis,' and hence, there were no ashes. ''If there are no ashes, how can I take out a yatra? The very idea is absurd,'' he said.

The Arch-bishop of Cuttack was misleading the Supreme Court (SC) and the people of India with his allegation that a 'yatra' is to be taken out from September 7 with the ashes, Mr Togadia said.

''I accuse him of lying to the Apex Court under oath and misleading the people of India,'' he said.

Asked about the assurance by the Orissa government to the SC that the 'yatra' would be 'prevented,' Mr Togadia said ''The state government has not said that it denied me permission. It merely said that no permission was given because I did not asked for it.'' Mr Togadia said the programmes would be held not only in Orissa, but all across the country to condole Laxmananda's death. Nobody could deny the right of the Hindus to do so, he said.

It was unfortunate that Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil did not find time to go to Jammu, where terrorists had taken a family hostage, but had time to spare to visit Orissa, he added.

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