the_riteous

VHP Trishul Diksha Cancelled in Bihar in Lack of Adequate Support
Patna: August 11, 2003

Failing to enroll at least 1000 Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal
activists in the state, the VHP leader Praveen Togadia announced his
decision to postpone his "Trishul Diksha" in Bihar that was scheduled for
August 15 and 16 in Muzaffarpur and Bihar respectively.

Denying the rumors that the drive was cancelled because of the threat issued
by Rashtriya Janata Dal president Laloo Prasad Yadav who had appealed to his
supporters to keep their lathis ready to teach Togadia and his "communal
gang" a lesson in Bihar, the VHP leader Radha Mohan Singh said that because
of acute shortage of Bajrangees in Bihar, the program has been put off until
further announcement. "We will launch a drive to recruit members in Bihar
and once we have reached our goal, we will move on with our plan", said
Singh.

Togadia's visit to Bihar, however, is not affected who will still visit
Muzaffarpur and Patna as previously scheduled, Singh said.

Ram Chandra Purbey, the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs in the Rabri
government, in the absence of Laloo Prasad Yadav who is on a peace mission
to Pakistan, said that Togadia's efforts will be met with stiff resistance
and he would not be allowed to engage in communal activities like trishul
diksha that has only one goal and that is to destroy the communal peace and
harmony of the state.