NEW DELHI, NOV 2: Legally, they have been granted bail. But they are in jail and may well miss the Papal visit for which they were making so many plans.It was late last night when the Delhi Shiv Sena chief Jai Bhagwan Goel and three of his associates were picked up from their homes for breach of peace. The ``preventive arrests'' were made following a demonstration by Shiv Sainiks at the Jantar Mantar yesterday. The sainiks had burnt an effigy protesting against ``forced conversions'' and demanded an apology from the Pope.The Sainiks do have a track record of creating trouble- they dug up the pitch at Ferozeshah Kotla grounds to prevent the Indo-Pak cricket match and had gone on a rampage at Regal cinema hall for screening Deepa Mehta's Fire. To ensure a smooth Papal visit, authorities decided to lock them up this time round.So even as upset sainiks shouted slogans and demanded the release of their state leaders - party president Goel, vice-president Om Dutt Sharma, propaganda secretary Dharmender Kumar Bedi, and state executive member Ramakant Sharma- they were all bundled away to Tihar. The Special Executive Magistrate (Seelampur) M S Tyagi granted bail but referred the verification of sureties to the SHO of Shahdara police station. And according to Vinod Khanna, Shiv Sainik's advocate, it may take quite a few days for the verification.An angry Goel said: ``The government is meting us out with step-motherly treatment. It is organisations like Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Bajrang Dal who are staging the major protests. All we did was to stage a peaceful demonstration and we have been hauled in.''When the magistrate refused to be swayed, Goel who primarily argued his case himself, spoke about the great Hindu tradition of welcoming one's guests even if they were our enemies. He spoke about the great Hindu festival of Diwali and how they did not want to spend in jail.``When Shiv Sainiks want to do something, they do it after making an announcement. We do not do anything in a clandestine manner. If we have told you that we will not hold any demonstrations, indulge in violence or destruction, then we mean it. You should believe us and set us free,'' he pleaded.However, he did threaten that though his workers may not protest against the Pope's visit, his detention might spark off a controversy. ``There are hundreds of sainiks in this city and they just might do something if I am not released,'' he said.And while there is no clear strategy so far, the sainiks are feverishly working on one. Says Sandeep Aggarwal, press secretary: ``So far they have arrested 19 of our men and we fear that there may be more arrests. We are trying to establish contact with our supremo Bala Saheb Thackeray and as soon as we are able to talk to him, we will plan our next move.''
