Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Newtork- Mangalore

Mangalore, Aug 26: As a part of the nation-wide protest against the arrest of VHP leaders Ashok Singhal and Praveen Bhai Togadia in Ayodhya, the activists of VHP and Bajarangadal held a peaceful protest at the Gandhi park, opposite Town Hall, here on Monday August 26.

Prayers, bhajans and slogans were a part of the two-hour long protest that was organized to support the cause of construction of the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya.

Addressing the protestors, VHP president M B Puranik said that “'Parikrama Yatre', a devotional and peaceful trip to Ayodhya has been carried out every year by the activists of VHP, BD and thousands of other Ram devotees, under the guidance of various Swamijis and religious leaders. This trip has been carried out in various batches divided under the district wise committee."

"The prime reason for organizing this yatra is to construct the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya under priority basis. While there have been questions that have been raised with relation to the existence of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, there is also evidence that when the land was dug, remains of the old monuments were recovered to support the truth of the existence of Ram Mandir in that venue was confirmed," he added.

The Allahabad High Court has also agreed with regards to the existence of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya. After the destruction of Babri Masjid in 1992 which led to communal disharmony, the court had permitted to construct a Ram Mandir at the venue.

"But the UP and the Central Government has been purposely delaying the proposal of construction of the Mandir, with a view to create favor with the muslims and the minorities. On August 25, top VHP leaders Ashok Singhal, Pravin Thogadiya, along with other Swamijis and religious leaders have been stopped from carrying out this Parikrama Yatra and have been arrested.

"With a view to condemn this act of the UP and Central Government, the activists of VHP and BD are carrying out a nation-wide protest. If this act continues, there is no doubt of a fatal eruption of communal disharmony similar to that caused in 1992," he warned.

Leaders Sharan Pumpwell, Krishna Murthy, Manohar Thulajaram, Gopal Kuthar, Jagadeesh Shenava, Jithendra Kottary, Bhujanga Kulal, Pradeep Pumpwell, Punith Pumpwell and others were present.