Hindu leader on conspiracy charge

Hindu leader on conspiracy charge

Mr Togadia is due in court on Wednesday

A radical Hindu leader in India has been charged with "conspiracy against the nation", a charge which can attract life imprisonment.

Praveen Togadia of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP, World Hindu Council) has been held since Sunday facing charges of handling illegal weapons.

Now the state government in the north-western state of Rajasthan has increased the charge and also accused him of inciting communal passions.

Mr Togadia's controversial arrest has been greeted with protests from Hindu hardliners.

On Tuesday police in detained hundreds of Hindu hardliners protesting at the arrest of their leader.

A local court has also rejected Mr Togadia's bail application.

Senior VHP leaders are travelling to Rajasthan to take stock of the situation.

Shops attacked

A protest strike by his supporters received a mixed response on Tuesday, and there were isolated incidents of violence in the state.

Police had put in place special security arrangements across the state to prevent trouble ahead of the strike.

In the event, the day-long action passed off peacefully, barring a few minor incidents.

The most serious was in central Ajmer district where two fair price shops were attacked. Two dozen people were arrested.

Reports say the shops, one of which was ransacked, were targeted because they had defied the strike call.

Earlier, more than 300 activists belonging to the VHP and other hardline Hindu organisations were arrested to prevent trouble, police said. They were later released.

Temple campaign

Hindu activists want to build a temple at Ayodhya

Mr Togadia was arrested after handing out tridents, a traditional Hindu symbol, at a rally.

Calls for his release are being backed by India's governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

But the Rajasthan government says the VHP is creating fear among religious minorities by distributing sharp-edged weapons in the guise of religious symbols.

Police say Mr Togadia breached a new law brought in last week which bans the possession and distribution of sharp weapons in Rajasthan.

Last month Mr Togadia was arrested in southern Andhra Pradesh state, where police feared an address he was due to give could spark trouble.

The VHP is holding public rallies to mobilise support for its campaign to build a temple on the ruins of a demolished mosque in the northern town of Ayodhya.