Azam Khan behind the ban on VHP's yatra: BJP

VARANASI: The UP BJP leadership believes that senior minister of Samajwadi Party government Azam Khan is behind the ban on VHP's 84-kosi parikrama yatra of Ayodhya.
The BJP state president Lakshmikant Vajpayee held Azam Khan responsible for the ban on parikrama yatra and said that the the UP chief minister succumbed to the pressure of his cabinet colleague Azam Khan.
"The fact is that the decision on parikrama yatra was taken in the meeting of CM with VHP leaders.But, Azam Khan torpedoed the whole process by convincing the CM that it would annoy the Muslim voters," said Vaipayee while talking to reporters here on Sunday. The CM coming under the pressure of Azam Khan backtracked and put a ban on the yatra, he said adding that the VHP leaders had sought permission for the yatra with 250 saints and seers only.
"If the government sees any threat on law and order it would have been a wise step to deploy 500 police personnel to escort 250 seers during yatra," said Vajpayee adding, "But, the government played a communal card and put a ban on yatra fearing the shift of Muslim votes to Congress". He said that that the BJP condemned this move of state government.