BJP's security march hits first roadblock

Bhubaneswar: The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Bharat Suraksha Yatra (India security march) has been forced to change its course.

Party president Rajanath Singh's rath (chariot), which was scheduled to roll out from Puri today, has been denied permission by the Jagannath temple priests. Instead, it will start from Orissa state's capital Bhubaneswar today.

The temple priests on Tuesday objected to the BJP's rath on the Grand Road of Puri saying that it would "disrespect" Lord Jagannath, the presiding deity of Puri and hurt the sentiments of Hindus.

"Only the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra can roll on here. Traditionally, no other rath is permitted on this holy road," the priests told BJP leaders. With no other alternative, the BJP leaders immediately shifted their programme to Bhubaneswar.

The BJP's second chariot, which will have party leader L.K. Advani on it, will simultaneously begin its journey from Dwaraka today. Advani's rath will pass through 10 states covering 5,800km. Both the yatras will end in New Delhi on May 10. An air-conditioned vehicle specially designed in Bangalore arrived in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday and has been sent to Charbatia near Cuttack to have armour-plates fitted.