VHP leader Togadia banned from entering Bengaluru

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. - IANS