Date:22/11/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/22/stories/2006112222870300.htm

New Delhi

BJP plans to gherao Parliament

Staff Reporter

To protest against "anti-national" policies of the Centre

NEW DELHI: Thousands of workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party from all over the country will converge at Jantar Mantar here on Wednesday to gherao Parliament in protest against the "anti-national" policies of the Congress-led Government at the Centre and to demand execution of the death penalty awarded to the Parliament attack accused Mohammad Afzal.

According to Delhi BJP unit president Harsh Vardhan, workers from all the 16 BJP districts of Delhi, will take part in "Rashtirya Suraksha Sankalp March" that would witness the participation of senior party leaders including former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, former Union Minister L.K. Advani, party president Raj Nath Singh and other senior leaders. The BJP Delhi workers would be stationed at all entry points to the Capital to welcome party men from other States.

Mr. Advani would lead the assembly of workers at Raj Ghat. Mr. Raj Nath Singh would lead the protestors from Birla Mandir.

Dr. Vardhan said protestors would approach Parliament Street and Jantar Mantar from various points in the Capital. Apart from Mr. Vajpayee, Mr. Advani and Mr. Raj Nath Singh, the other leaders that will address the party workers include senior BJP leaders, Murli Manohar Joshi, Sushma Swaraj, Venkaiah Naidu and Arun Jaitely.

Accusing the Congress and the Left parties of adopting double standards, Dr. Vardhan said it was unfortunate that both the Congress and the Communists were trying to protect a terrorist who was involved in the attack on Parliament. "The Congress is trying to seek forgiveness for Mohammad Afzal with an eye on the minority vote bank and such an action would prove fatal for security of the citizens as well as the entire nation," he said.

Traffic restrictions

The traffic police have advised commuters to avoid certain roads in the Capital on Wednesday in view of a protest rally being organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party at Jantar Mantar here.

A large number of people from the neighbouring States of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan are expected to enter Delhi from the Shinghu, Loni, Maharajpur, Gazipur, Badarpur, Rajokri Aya Nagar and Tikri border points to take part in the rally.

The traffic police have advised commuters to avoid roads around Raj Ghat, JP Marg, Delhi Gate, Subhas Marg, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, Barakhamba Road, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, Janpath, Ashoka Road, Baba Kharag Singh Marg, Gole Dak Khana, Mandir Marg and Park Street as there would be heavy movement of rally participants on these stretches for most parts of the day.