Mumbai: Adopting a bellicose stance, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in Maharashtra virtually challenged the Democratic Front (DF) government asserting that VHP leader Pravin Togadia, whose programmes have been banned in the state, would undertake a tour of the state and launch an agitation.

"Entire Hindu society will take the law into its own hands and counter the ban imposed on Togadia and the state government will be responsible for the consequences", a hard-hitting statement by Maharashtra unit VHP secretary Prof Vyankatesh Abdev said.

Stating that VHP and Bajrang Dal strongly condemn the "ban on the entry of Togadia into Maharashtra", Abdev blamed Congress for "maliciously twisting out of context Togadia's speech".

After Congress workers allegedly blackened Togadia's face in Pune and indulged in a clash with VHP and Bajrang Dal activists in Nagpur recently, the Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh had announced that "keeping in view the law and order situation, the VHP functionary will not be allowed to undertake programmes in the state".

Referring to Congressmen's behaviour, Abdev said, "These hirelings, who took law into their hands by attacking our offices, assaulting our workers, throwing rotten eggs and tomatoes at Togadia, should be banned".

Claiming that during the three-year DF rule in Maharashtra, the state has witnessed nearly 57 communal riots, Abdev said instead of banning Togadia's entry, the Chief Minister should address the issue of riots.

PTI