Singhal slams BJP leaders as hypocrites

VHP supremo Ashok Singhal today made a scathing attack on BJP leaders charging them with ‘‘hypocrisy and doublespeak’’ o...

VHP supremo Ashok Singhal today made a scathing attack on BJP leaders charging them with ‘‘hypocrisy and doublespeak’’ on the Ram temple issue even as he warned the Uttar Pradesh government of dire consequences if it obstructed the outfit’s October 17 programme in Ayodhya.

Terming the BJP leaders as ‘‘hypocrites’’, Singhal said, ‘‘The NDA is hostile to Ram temple agenda. BJP should clarify whether it supports the Ram temple or not. Its leaders should not talk with a forked tongue — giving statement in favour of the temple outside Parliament and doing a somersault in the House.’’

He said a legislation to facilitate construction of Ram temple was possible if Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee so desired: ‘‘Vajpayee has a political stature…If he wishes, a legislation in favour of temple construction could be passed.” He said VHP would not allow any political party to draw mileage from the Ayodhya issue.

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Singhal also warned the state government of ‘‘grave consequence’’ if it banned the proposed VHP programme at Ayodhya on October 17.

‘‘We have planned to organise a peaceful programme at Ayodhya but if VHP activists are prevented from reaching there, the situation may go out of hands,’’ he cautioned.

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