BJP threatens stir over banning of VHP convention

mumbai: the maharashtra bjp has warned the ruling democratic front (df) that its activists will take to the streets to condemn the government's act of ``banning a convention of a patriotic organisation like the vishwa hindu parishad (vhp) in jalgaon, but not arresting an alleged instigator of malegaon riots like former janata dal mla nihal ahmed.'' the df government showed its true colours by arresting vhp international general secretary pravinbhai togadia in jalgaon, maharashtra bjp spokesman atul bhatkhalkar said here in a statement on thursday.the rashtra rakhsa sammelan (save the nation convention) organised by the vhp in jalgaon was an expression of nationalistic aspirations. a jalgaon bandh called to protest against mr togadia's arrest was a resounding success, he claimed. mr bhatkhalkar said the df government took action against those bjp workers who wanted to burn effigies of international terrorists. this proved that the congress-led government wanted to punish patriots, but at the same time it was ready to bow before traitors who waved pakistani flags. this attitude of appeasement resulted in the riots in malegaon, he said.