Ram Rath reaches Rameswaram, VHP thanks Opposition for ‘publicity’

Flagging off the yatra from the Ramakrishna Mutt here, BJP national president H Raja said it had passed peacefully through Congress-ruled Karnataka and CPM-ruled Kerala, but in Tamil Nadu, Dravidian parties, with the intention of creating tension, opposed it and so strong action should be taken against them. 

Raja, however, praised the state government for providing appropriate security for the Ratha Yatra and added that prohibitory orders do not apply for religious processions. 

Meanwhile, on a sarcastic note, the VHP ‘thanked’ the Opposition for making the yatra popular by staging protests across the state.

Senior VHP leader Vedantham also said the yatra had passed through Kerala and Karnataka, where the Left and Congress are in power, without facing any opposition, though in Tamil Nadu there were widespread protests. If there was no opposition, it would have gone ahead without anyone noticing it, and only because leaders such as MK Stalin, Thol Thirumavalavan and Seeman protested, it became popular and they should be thanked for it, he said. Even if they had advertised the Ratha Yatra, it would not have become as popular, Vedantham added acerbically.