Bhubaneswar: Odisha will witness the face-off between the prime minister Narendra Modi and Praveen Togadia, the international working president of Viswa Hindu Parisad (VHP) who was removed this year.
Modi is coming on a one-day visit to the state on December 24. He will address a public meeting at Khorda after attending a spree of functions relating to various projects.
Togadia is arriving in Bhubaneswar on December 23. He will address public meetings in Jajpur, Bhadrak, Nayagarh and Jharsuguda.
Interestingly, at a time when Modi would be delivering his speech at Khorda, Togadia was speaking to a gathering a few kilometers away in the neighbouring Nayagarh district.
Modi is expected to came down heavily on the opposition Congress and the state’ ruling BJD. In his signature style, the prime minister is likely to make some trenching remarks about the opposition Congress and BJD. However, his rhetoric would be overshadowed by the fire spewing statements of Togadia.
Togadia, a known critic of the prime minister Modi, is expected to launch a blistering attack on Modi. Togadia has formed a new Hindu outfit– Antar Rastriya Hindu Parisad (ARHP) to indulge in Modi biting in the guise of championing the cause of Hindutwa in general and Ram Jamabhoomi Mandir at regular intervals.
Praveen Togadia is angry at Modi for he believes that the conspiracy by Modi-Shah led to his removal from the VHP . Even though Togadia was not in the fray, his protegees got defeated due to the back room machination by the duo in the first ever organisational elections held in April 2018. His scathing attacks on Modi are seen as the principle reasons for his ouster.
