New Delhi, May 5
The issue of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Praveen Togadia distributing trishuls during rallies came up for discussion in the Rajya Sabha today with the Congress-led Opposition demanding the imposition of Prevention of Terrorist Act (POTA) against the party leaders.

Raising the issue during zero hour, the Congress member Suresh Pachauri said while Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee talked of peace initiatives with Pakistan, the VHP and other Sangh Parivar outfits were creating trouble by distributing trishuls to 50 million people.

The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Manmohan Singh, said the issue was serious and the government must make a statement soon. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said she would apprise Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister L.K. Advani of the members’ concern.

The RJD President Laloo Prasad Yadav said when he took out a lathi rally, the BJP branded him a criminal but the trishul-wielding people of the Sangh Parivar were going scot-free.

In the Lok Sabha, the government maintained a discreet silence on the demand by the Opposition for an explanation whether it favoured VHP leader Pravin Togadia’s "trishul diksha" programme in the Capital yesterday despite a warning to him by a Rajasthan court.

Raising the issue during zero hour, the Congress and the Samajwadi Party members today charged the government with failure to maintain law and order by permitting Mr Togadia to create an atmosphere of fear by distributing trishuls at a function in East Delhi yesterday.