VHP, BJP protests hit traffic in Delhi, Mumbai

NEW DELHI: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Wednesday began its nationwide protest against the cancellation of land transfer to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) by blocking roads and disrupting train services across the country.

Traffic hit in NCR

Traffic was affected and several people were stranded in many parts of the national Capital region on Wednesday as a number of BJP and VHP activists blocked roads as part of their nationwide 'chakka jam' agitation over the Amarnath land row.

Vehicular movement was badly affected here on the busy Vikas Marg, Akshardham, Deepali Chowk, Wazirpur, Moolchand and the Delhi-Jaipur Highway.

Carrying VHP flags, slogan-shouting supporters of the Sangh Parivar started assembling at various intersections at about 9 am for their two-hour nationwide road blockade stir.

Delhi BJP unit president Harsh Vardhan led the protesters at Noida More near Lakshmi Nagar in east Delhi blocking traffic on Vikas Marg.

A senior police official said adequate security measures were taken in view of the protest.

VHP general secretary Pravin Togadia said the agitation programme of the VHP demanding immediate transfer of forest land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board could culminate into a nationwide movement on the lines of 'Chalo Ayodhya'.

However, the group had on Tuesday said vehicles heading to schools and hospitals would not be stopped.

Traffic hit in Mumbai
Traffic in the metropolis and neighbouring Navi Mumbai was disrupted at some places as VHP and Bajrang Dal activists set up road blocks as part of their nationwide agitation.

In Navi Mumbai, VHP and Bajrang Dal workers threw old tyres on roads and set them on fire to block passage of vehicles.

VHP general secretary Pravin Togadia said: "The central government must give the land to the Amarnath shrine board; otherwise our protest will continue."

For the last two months, Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed unparalleled strife along communal lines over the allotment of 40 hectares of land in north Kashmir to the Amarnath shrine board, which manages the pilgrimage to the cave shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva.

The allotment was revoked due to protests in the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley, which incensed people in the Hindu-majority Jammu region.

Source : Times Of India