VHP Leader Praveen Togadia Cancels Two-Day West Bengal Visit

05 April, Kolkata

Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s international working president Praveen Togadia has cancelled his scheduled two-day West Bengal trip following state government’s blanket ban of his entry into the state.

VHP leader Chinmoy Dutta told reporters that Togadia wouldnot come into the state until the local government lifted ban on his entry.

Togadia was to visit in Kolkata and Raigunj in north Bengal to address the workers and attend 50th year celebration of the organisation. The VHP, however, would observer its scheduled programme at Raigunj on today ,Sunday, added Dutta.

He said the organisation would also carry out propaganda against the Mamata Banerjee’s government’s dictatorial attitude” towards a Hindu leader preventing him from coming into the state. The VHP made futile moves in the court of law to have stay on the government order and tried to call on State Governor Keshri Nath Tripahty.

The government on Wednesday banned VHP leader Praveen Togadia from entering the West Bengal apprehending communal tension and violence. The government clamped Section 144 Cr Pc across the state to prevent Togadia from entering the state.

The government in a notification said “to ensure the social and secular fabric of the state he (Togadia) will be arrested if he enters West Bengal,” Meanwhile, the West Bengal police intensified security system in Raigunj following VHP’s programme on Sunday. Police began checking all the entry points from Nepal and Bihar to restrict the entry of unwanted persons into the state.