Modi visit to Kumbh: SP talking like lumpen element

New Delhi, Feb 6: With the Indian Republic bending to the fringe groups and their threats, the main stream parties are shedding their modicum of restraint and talking like the lumpen elements.

The open threat on Narendra Modi's visit by Samajwadi Party leader Ram Asrey Kushwaha is the direct outcome of not being tough with the fringe groups on the law and order issue as it happened in the case of Kamal Haasan, Salman Rushdie or the Valentine Day protests.

His statement that the Kumbh Mela is not the place for politics, and no such meetings would be permitted is a challenge to the sants and sadhus, who guide the Indian multitude.

"We advise the BJP that the Kumbh is not a place for politics, if they do so, we will stop them," Kushwaha said today. "Responsibility of law and order lies with us. If due to Modi's visit something happens then we will stop it."

His comments amid wide expectations that the VHP will name Narendra Modi as their choice for Prime Minister when he visits the kumbh on Feb 12 to take a holy dip. BJP President Rajnath Singh will be at the Kumbh mela on Wednesday and will be meeting leaders of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad in what is percieved to be a strategy meet for the Sangh Parivar in relation to the upcoming 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

Rightly so, the BJP hit back at the SP saying that the Kumbh Mela is an open religious event and the SP does not own it.

"Kumbh is not owned by the SP. Nobody can stop anyone from coming here. In stopping Narendra Modi from attending the Kumbh, the SP will politicise the issue," Kalraj Mishra of the BJP said.

The SP's statement is also aimed at protecting its Muslim vote bank. In fact, its chief Mulayam Singh is fondly called as Mulla Mulayam and the SP is targeting Modi to please Muslims in the largest state with highest population of the minority community.

However, the mainstream parties should desist from issuing such threats, especially against the chief ministers.

OneIndia News