With four days left for Virata Hindu Samajotsava at Dasara Exhibition Grounds in the city on March 11, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has kept the Police department guessing on the possible participation of its leader Praveen Bhai Togadia, known for his inflammatory remarks."
While the department has cleared the permission for organising the convention after vetting into the invite, VHP is campaigning in different parts of the city wooing people in the name of Togadia.
When enquired at the police commissioner’s office on Saturday, it emerged that the organisers have applied for permission along with the invite, consisting of the names of chief guests and speakers, totalling 22.
But there is no mention of Togadia. At the jurisdictional Nazarbad police station, the application seeking permission is restricted to the programme and venue, without any further information on the participants.
According to a source who preferred anonymity, the organisers are planning to bring in Togadia only for the sake of attracting the people. While there is no word yet on the possibility of him addressing the gathering.
Police Commissioner M A Saleem said that the department had sought from the organisers the permission letter from Karnataka Exhibition Authority (KEA), as the B V Karanth Rangamantapa, the convention venue, is located inside the Dasara exhibition grounds.
“The organisers have furnished the letter, and the required permission to host the convention has been granted,” he said.
According to VHP, Togadia is scheduled to attend Mysuru convention, after Hassan and Chikkmagalur on March 10 and Udupi on March 9.
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