BJP mulls rath yatra over Amarnath row

The Bharatiya Janata Party is considering a rath yatra to focus on "core issues" of Amarnath land row and internal security.

The Bharatiya Janata Party is considering a rath yatra to focus on "core issues" of Amarnath land row and internal security.

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The party, which came to the centre-stage of Indian politics with its L K Advani-led Ayodhya rath yatra, is contemplating a similar feat, covering the length and breadth of the country highlighting the "failure" of the UPA government in ensuring the interests of Hindus and safety of the country.

With the controversial Amarnath yatra coming to an end on Saturday, BJP office bearers will hold an 'important' meeting today to discuss ways to keep the issue alive in public memory.

One of the means to ensure this would be to hold a rath yatra led by either BJP President Rajnath Singh or by the party's prime ministerial candidate L K Advani.

"The Amarnath issue is not going to settle down. It is a fight between the nationalists and the separatists. What is the harm if the party takes up a campaign to mobilise public opinion in favour of the nationalist forces?" a top party leader told PTI.

A rath yatra is one of the desirable options but it is yet to be finalised, he added.

According to sources, the VHP is against the BJP taking up a campaign on the Amarnath issue.

"The parishad is concerned that the Amarnath issue would have the same fate as the Ayodhya issue. It is a matter of further discussion. The party has not finalised anything else yet," another party leader said.