Monday, June 20 2005 18:02 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Seeking to revive the party's fortunes in the politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh, BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) is all set to launch a week-long 'Dharam Yudh' (Holy War) across the State to protest the alleged demolition of the statue of Jansangh ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya in Rampur.

"We will be launching the Dharama Yudh from June 21 against the anti-national Taliban forces with Rampur as the rallying point for all state level leaders and activists", party Vice-President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told sources in New Delhi here today (Jun 20, 2005). A former Lok Sabha member from Rampur, Naqvi said MPs, MLAs and senior leaders of the party would participate in a rally in Lucknow on June 23.

All MPs, MLAs, office bearers of the State and district units would stage a 'Satyagraha' and court arrest in Rampur on the concluding day of the campaign on June 27, he said.

Among the senior Central and State unit leaders expected to take part in the programmes are UP BJP chief Kesrinath Tripathi, former Chief Ministers Kalyan Singh and Rajnath Singh, and senior party leaders Kalraj Mishra, Lalji Tandon and Shahnawaz Hussein, he said.

Naqvi had on Friday (Jun 17, 2005) submitted a memorandum to President A P J Abdul Kalam requesting him to seek a report from the Uttar Pradesh Governor over the removal of the statue and the destruction of the square where it was placed.