Indo-Pak joint I-Day celebrations Disrupted by VHP

Activists of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Tuesday disrupted India-Pakistan joint celebrations of their independence organized by a group of voluntary organizations in Hyderabad.

The activists tried to barge into the conference hall at Gandhi Darshan on Exhibition Grounds where a Pakistani couple who was here for treatment of their daughter were the special guest.The couple were escorted away by the organizers.

Police arrested about 10 VHP activists and prevented many others including Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) cadres from entering the Exhibition Grounds.

The VHP activists demanded the arrest of the organizers for celebrating Pakistan's independence.

"They are protesting why Pakistan's independence is being celebrated when Hindus are migrating from Pakistan," remarked Anand Raj Varma, advisory committee member, Confederation of Voluntary Organizations (COVA)The organizers said they have been organizing the joint celebrations for several years.

PTI