Headlines
VHP leader Togadia banned from entering Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Feb 3
Police Tuesday banned
right-wing group Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Pravin Togadia from
entering the Karnataka capital Feb 5-11, on grounds of apprehension that
his provocative and inflammatory speeches would cause breach of peace.
"We
have imposed prohibitory orders banning Togadia's entry into the city
to maintain peace and law and order," Police Commissioner M.N. Reddi
said in a statement here.
Togadia is scheduled to participate in a VHP convention (Hindu Viraat Samavesha) in the city Feb 8.
The
order banning Togadia from entering the city and participating in
public meetings or functions for seven days was issued under section
144(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code.
"As Togadia is habitually
and ideologically inclined to give provocative and inflammatory
speeches, such activities will have grave consequences and are likely to
cause breach of peace, danger to human life and disturb public
tranquility and communal harmony in the city," Reddi observed.
Law-enforcing
agencies in many states, including Karnataka have registered 19
criminal cases against Togadia for allegedly making inflammatory
statements and disrespecting the constitution in the recent past.
Hindu outfit Bajrang Dal however urged the city police to allow Togadia to attend the VHP convention in the city.
"If
police do not allow Togadia to participate in the convention, we may
take to legal course for his entry into the city for participating in
the meet," Bajrang Dal state convener Suryanarayana told reporters after
meeting Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Alok Kumar to
seek lifting of the ban order.