Ahmedabad: With the Gujarat government having denied permission for the proposed "padshahi" yatra, top brass of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal are meeting on November 15 to "discuss further course of action".

VHP international general secretary Praveen Togadia said, "All senior leaders of VHP and Bajrang Dal will meet at 14:00 hours to take stock of the situation following Panchmahals collector's instructions on November 14 to cancel the earlier order of SDM to take out the yatra."

Togadia said they had the "permission" till November 14 afternoon from the Sub- Divisional Magistrate of Panchmahals "to go ahead with the yatra" but it was cancelled later in the day.

"We had permission for the yatra till November 14 but as of now we do not have one. This is a change in scenario which top leaders will discuss at the meeting," said Togadia.

In the meantime, sources in Godhra, from where the VHP Padshahi Yatra was to commence, said the members of the local unit would meet the district collector on November 15 afternoon seeking "a new permission or extend validity of the previous one" to continue the proposed yatra.

VHP workers have already begun preparations for the controversial yatra, scheduled for November 17 at Godhra, the sources added.

Top personnel of the state bureaucracy would also hold a "high level" meeting to discuss the issue of "permission" for the VHP yatra, official sources said.

Home secretary K Nityanandam said, "We have to discuss this issue today and take a decision. However, I cannot comment now if we can announce the decision immediately."

PTI