Govt may fall on temple issue, warns VHP

"There could be mid-term elections if the secularists (BJP’s allies) withdraw support to the NDA Government on the Ram temple issue.

"Under the circumstances, if the government has to fall on the issue, so be it," he said in an interview to PTI here.

Maintaining that fall of the government on the temple issue would "indeed be unfortunate", Singhal said the "Sant Samaj also does not want another mid-term poll."

The VHP leader said the Dharam Sansad has given a deadline to the government to take necessary measures to remove "impediments" in the way of temple construction and it was committed not to back out on the decisions of the saints.

Asked whether the VHP could review its temple action plan in case there was a threat to the Vajpayee Government, he said "we are tied to the saints and not to the government.

Criticising the Vajpayee Government for following a policy of drift on the temple issue, Singhal said "the government is responsible for its acts of omission and commission. The VHP or the Sadhu Samaj has nothing to do with the political fallout on the issue."

He said Parliament should enact a legislation paving the way for transfer of the acquired land at Ayodhya to Hindus before the deadline so that the construction could start on any auspicious day after March 12 next year.

"The Parliament will have to pass such a legislation either today or tomorrow," he said adding " a mosque cannot be built there. That is for sure."