Bhubaneswar, Feb 28 (IANS) The day-long shutdown called by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) to protest against the ban on the entry of its top leader Pravin Togadia hit normal life in Odisha's Kandhamal district Saturday, police said.
People and commercial vehicles stayed off the roads in most places including the district headquarter town of Phulbani. Shops, hotels and business establishments also downed shutters, district superintendent of police Kanwar Vishal Singh told IANS.
"Some shops are opened here and there. Although four wheelers stayed off the roads, bikes and two wheelers are operating as usual. Emergency services such as hospitals were operating normally. The shutdown has remained uneventful so far," he said.
Togadia was scheduled to address a gathering of VHP supporters at Phulbani Saturday.
The VHP called the shutdown after authorities imposed a ban on Togadia's entry into the district following apprehension that it might disturb the peace.
VHP leader Bhagaban Mohanty accused the local administration of double standards. "While it had allowed Christian missionaries to hold meetings in the region in the past, we do not understand why it restricted Togadia," he said.
At least 38 people were killed and thousands had to flee their homes following widespread communal violence in the region in 2008 after the murder of VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati.
Different Christian groups had moved the local and state administration seeking a ban on the proposed visit of Togadia, saying his fiery speeches might upset the fragile peace between communities.
In the final of the Champions Trophy to be held on Sunday, the Indian team will enter the final w
PM Modi's 75th birthday today... BJP makes special preparations for celebrations, PM to visit MP
The BJP and the government will celebrate Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 75th birthday today with
The microblogging site Twitter's explanation in front of the parliamentary committee regarding sh
The first phase of Manipur Election 2022 has started today. Voting is being held today in 38 cons
On the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Congress party on Friday targeted the B
Rhea Chakraborty and her brother showik Chakraborty jailed in the drugs case related to the Susha
Faults have been found in the electricity meter installed by SP MP Ziaur Rahman Bark and former M
2G money laundering: Ammal, five others' statement recorded
New Delhi, March 25 (IANS) A court here on Wednesday recorded the statement of DMK leader M. K
The Supreme Court on Monday raised the question of how can chanting 'Jai Shri Ram' be a crime. A
A Pakistani court on Friday granted bail to an accused of vandalizing the statue of Maharaja Ranj
