Hindu Activists to March to Ayodhya Despite Government Bans

October 13, 2003

Source: AlertNet news

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SP36308.htm

On October 13, 2003 AlertNet news ran a Reuters article reported that "thousands of Indian Hindu activists, defying a government ban, are packing buses and trains headed to the town of Ayodhya to demand a temple be built over the ruins of a mosque...About 20,000 hardliners are expected for Friday's rally from Gujarat state alone, where more than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were burned or hacked to death last year after a Muslim mob torched a train, killing 59 Hindus returning from Ayodhya...The VHP [Vishwa Hindu Parishad], allied to the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party that rules Gujarat and leads the federal coalition government, says Friday's march will be peaceful."