SURAT, March 30: Though the city units of the Bajrang Dal and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad have decided to submit a memoranda to the District Collector and the Police Commissioner, demanding the resignation of state Home Minister Haren Pandya for `not being able to ensure the safety of Bajrangis in the state', after the death of Hari Solanki, a BD worker in Ahmedabad. BD office bearers here have not chalked out any extreme form of agitation and have decided to underplay the killing. ``It has happened and is unfortunate, but we have not planned to go ahead with a dharna on the issue,'' an office bearer said.The BD and the VHP will hold a condolence meeting in Mangadh Chowk in Varachha in the city on Thursday, where the future course of action will be decided, leaders of the organisations said here.
``The demand made by the Ahmedabad unit for the resignation of Pandya stands as the government has failed to protect Bajrangis, who were just doing their job,'' city working president of VHP, Lalji Patel told Express Newsline. He added that representatives of VHP and BD would hand over separate memoranda to the Collector and Police Commissioner after the condolence meeting.
Mangalsen Chopra, city VHP president however was more severe in his criticism of the state government. Speaking to Express Newsline, he said, ``Chimanbhai Patel, a Congress CM had issued an order on a complete ban on cow slaughter. It was wrong on the part of Keshubhai Patel to provide a relaxation on the ban in the first place. And now, the government cannot safeguard the lives of Bajrangis, who have vowed to fight against cow slaughter. The demand for Pandya's resignation will be made more forcefully on this issue''.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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