Despite ban on speech, Pravin Togadia arrives in Guwahati

Guwahati: Former VHP leader Pravin Togadia arrived here on Wednesday despite the Assam government banning him from holding any public meeting or addressing the media for two months in and around the capital town.

Togadia flew in and headed straight to the Kamakhya temple atop the Nilachal Hills in the city. He came out of the airport with a black ribbon tied on his face in protest against the government's move to ban his scheduled programmes.

Hundreds of supporters of Aantarashtriya Hindu Parishad (AHP), however, gave a warm welcome to Togadia outside the airport by shouting slogans hailing him and denouncing the BJP-led government in Assam and at the Centre.

Although Togadia refrained from speaking to the media, AHP supporters said Togadia had decided to protest the government's move to silence him by tying the black ribbon.

Togadia is set to meet Guwahati Police Commissioner Hiren Nath on Wednesday to know the reasons for refraining him from making any statements or holding public rallies.

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"The move by the government is to silence us. However, we are not going to be silenced and the BJP government will get the answer in the 2019 elections," said an AHP leader in Assam.

He said the Assam government had stopped close to 100 vehicles in different parts of the state which were used by thousands of AHP supporters to reach Guwahati to meet Togadia.

The Commissioner of Police in Guwahati on Tuesday issued an order banning Togadia from making any public speech or holding a press conference in and around Guwahati.