Two-month ban on Pravin Togadia from public events in Guwahati

Guwahati, July 17 (PTI): The Guwahati Police today barred former VHP leader Pravin Togadia from attending any public function in the state capital for the next two months, fearing that his “inflammatory speeches” could disrupt peace.
The prohibitory order under Section 144 of the CrPC by Guwahati Police Commissioner Hiren Chandra Nath was issued following Togadia’s plans to visit the city and attend a series of programmes from today to July 19, organised by his newly-formed group – Antarashtriya Hindu Parishad (AHP). Stating that the Hindutva leader has been making “sensitive and inflammatory speeches”, Nath said, “… Such inflammatory speeches will hurt the sentiment of the religious minority community, and create a deep sense of insecurity among them, which is very likely to disturb law and order.”

If Togadia is allowed to address these events at ITA Machkhowa auditorium or a scheduled press conference on July 19 at Guwahati Press Club, public peace and order here and other areas of the Police Commissionerate are likely to be disturbed “in a serious manner”, Nath said. The Police Commissioner directed Togadia, who is the president of AHP, to abstain from attending events organised by it and making any speech through any media without proper permission.
Nath, however, said Togadia can appear before him for filing a written objection for cancellation or modification, if he is aggrieved by the order.