VHP leader Praveen Togadia banned in West Bengal

Kolkata: West Bengal government on Wednesday banned the entry of Vishva Hindu Parishad leader Praveen Togadia into the state fearing "communal tension and disruption in public tranquillity."

The government issued a notification in this regard under the provision of Section 144 CrPC asking district magistrates to execute it in their respective jurisdictions, state Home Secretary Basudeb Banerjee said.

"All district magistrates have been asked to execute the notification in their respective jurisdictions banning the entry into the state under Section 144 of CrPC to prevent disruption in public tranquillity and communal tension," Banerjee said.

State secretariat sources said the step was taken keeping in mind the upcoming civic polls in the state.

Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi termed the decision as "incorrect"

"This is not right. This should not be done," Joshi told reporters when asked to react on state government's decision.

RSS supremo Mohan Bhagwat, who was also present at the programme, refused to take any question.