In strongly worded statements to the local press, the VHP and Bajrang Dal have condemned ``such practices of holding prayer sessions with a promise that the dumb and deaf will be healed at the end of the prayers with God's blessings''. They say it is like taking people back to the age of superstition.

The Bajrang Dal sees it as anti-Hindu and anti-national. Its statement says: ``Don't fall into the trap. Save your religion. Save your country.''

Dr Houtsma, known for his prayer and faith-healing meetings, will be holding his sessions at the Race Course ground from 6 pm onward from October 7-11. This is the second time in two years that Dr Houtsma is holding his sessions in the state, the earlier one being atAhmedabad.

Sources in the VHP said that both the VHP the and Bajrang Dal have formed action committees to counter ``this religious campaign''. Both the parties have launched poster campaigns against the advertisements appearing in dailies about Dr Houtsma's sessions.

District authorities, however, think VHP and Bajrang Dal are only trying to stir up trouble. ``Followers of Dr Houtsma only claim that they pray for the dumb and deaf and, due to the faith they have in God, some of them might get healed during the prayer sessions. It is not a religious campaign as such. But the VHP and Bajrang Dal are making it into a issue saying that it is very superstitious,'' lamented a district administration official.

Taking serious note of the storm that is brewing, Rajkot police commissioner Sudhir Sinha has arranged for very heavy security cover at the venue at the Race Course grounds. ``We will have about 100 policemen guarding the area throughout the programme and all police units have been alerted for thepossibility of any untoward incident,'' he said.

Sources in the VHP also said that the organisation was planning to give a memorandum to district collector Pravin Trivedi on Tuesday to withdraw the permission granted to hold the prayer sessions.

But Trivedi said, ``They were here for sometime today in this regard but have not made any such request till now.''