7 Sena activists held at Rajghat

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, JULY 15. A day after the Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, created history in laying a wreath at Rajghat, the samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi was today abruptly closed to visitors for the first time ever. Seven Shiv Sena activists, who tried to barge into the samadhi premises in a bid to ``purify'' it, were arrested.

Around 8-30 a.m., five persons, said to be Shiv Sainiks, managed to sneak into the samadhi complex in the guise of visitors. But their suspicious movements attracted the attention of the security staff of the Raj Ghat Samadhi Committee. As the securitymen approached them, they fled. Meanwhile, four Shiv Sena activists in saffron robes were stopped at the entrance by guards after they revealed their identity. the four, who claimed they were going to ``purify'' the samadhi, were subsequently arrested.

Following the arrests, the cenotaph of the samadhi was closed to the public. The Secretary of the Raj Ghat Samadhi Committee, Mr. N. Vasudevan, said it was for the first time that the samadhi had been closed. However, visitors were allowed to have a view of the samadhi from atop the pathway of Rajghat. ``It will remain closed till we are assured that no such incident occurs,'' he said.

Extensive security arrangements were made at the site after the Shiv Sena declared its intent to ``cleanse'' the samadhi with ``gau-mutra'' (cow urine) and Ganga water following Gen. Musharraf's visit there. Over 35 policemen were deployed around the samadhi. As a precautionary measure, visitors were not allowed to carry water bottles inside. ``We will not allow any bottles inside as anyone could carry gau-mutra in it,'' said a police personnel on duty.

The Shiv Sainiks made another attempt around 11-30 a.m. to enter the samadhi, and finally, around 1 p.m., according to the party's Delhi unit chief, Mr. Jai Bhagwan Goel, four activists - Ms. Renu Bala, Mr. Lalu Guru, Mr. Jai Prakash Baghel and Mr. Rajan Panchal - managed to sneak in and ``purify'' the samadhi with ``gau- mutra''. Mr. Vasudevan, however, refused to confirm the incident.

Mr. Goel said: ``It was a reply to the cleansing of Minar-e- Pakistan at Lahore in Pakistan following the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee's visit to the monument.'' The activists were carrying polythene bags containing ``gau-mutra'' and Ganga water, he added.

The four were arrested by the police, Mr. Goel said, adding 8 activists, in all, were rounded up. The police, however, claimed that only seven persons had been arrested, but did not divulge the names. All of them have been booked under Sections 151 and 107 of the Indian Penal Code.

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