VHP demands dismissal of TN Govt, to launch stir

2005-01-11 Published by The Hindu Gathered by Press Trust of India

NEWDELHI,JANUARY 11: Angered at the arrest of Junior Sankaracharya of Kanchi Mutt Vijendra Saraswati, VHP tuesday announced to stage demonstrations and rallies across the country from wednesday even as it demanded dismissal of the Jayalalithaa Government in Tamil Nadu. The VHP will also launch a week-long programme of "Hanuman Chalisa" recital up to district level from Thursday to protest the Tamil Nadu Government's "high-handedness", VHP General Secretary Praveen Togadia told PTI by telephone from Nagpur. Attacking Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, Togadia alleged she was behaving "irresponsibly" and demanded the case should be transferred to some other state as the state government and Tamil Nadu Police have "lost credibility". "There is no credibility in the case against the Sankaracharyas. The charges against them are ridiculous," the VHP leader alleged. Criticising the arrest of junior seer Vijayendra Saraswati a few hours after senior Seer Jayendra Saraswati was released on bail by the Supreme Court, he said, "It exposed the motives of Jayalalithaa. She has been behaving irresponsibly even earlier which was clear by the treatment she meted out to former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi," he alleged. Togadia demanded immediate Central intervention and dismissal of the Jayalalithaa Government by invoking Article 356 of the Constitution, arguing "The Chief Minister is misusing the state administration and police for her ulterior motives."