VHP roadblock forced mother to deliver on street

New Delhi: In Patna, the VHP protests led to several traffic jams across the city, disrupting normal life.

Emergency services were also affected. A pregnant woman who was on her way to hospital for her delivery, found her route blocked by a traffic jam, and was eventually forced to deliver her baby on a street.

VHP activists blocked rail and road traffic and clashed with police in many parts of the country on Wednesday morning, protesting the proposal for a navigational sea route between India and Sri Lanka that could damage Ram Setu.

The three-hour road blockade to protest the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal project threw traffic off gear in many parts of Mumbai, Delhi, north and North-West India. Schools were also closed in Indore in anticipation of violence.

But barring the arrest of 46 VHP supporters in Puducherry, there was hardly any protest across South India. However, BJP Leader ID Swami warned the UPA of dire consequences if they ignored these protests.

The BJP and other constituents of the Sangh Parivar are opposing the Sethusamudram project saying it would damage an undersea bridge believed to be built by Lord Ram.