Jammu: Jammu police today prevented VHP leader Praveen Togadia from entering the state and detained him at Jammu airport here, fearing his presence would create law and order problems.
“I have been detained at the Jammu airport and not allowed to move out of the complex,” the Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader told PTI.
“I was served notice by the Additional Deputy Commissioner Jammu which said that I will not be allowed to enter Jammu as it will create law and order problem,” Togadia said.
The VHP leader said, “They did not allow me to exercise my fundamental rights as a citizen of India.”
Togadia said he told authorities there was not a single instance of his visit or speech creating a law and order problem in Jammu and Kashmir or anywhere in the country.
But J&K officials citied Togadia’s visit to Rajouri district on March 4 last year where his provocative speech had triggered tension between two communities.
Police had then filed a case against Togadia for allegedly hurting the sentiments of a community.
“I was on two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir to hear complaints of community about J&K government’s discrimination in jobs, employment, education, trade, security and religious rights,” he said.
District Development Commissioner Jammu, Sanjeev Verma said Togadia was not allowed to come out of the airport and “has been sent back”.
Outside the airport, activists of VHP and Bajrang Dal raised anti-government slogans saying that Togadia was not even allowed to meet them.
