VHP offers Congress a cow deal, claims SP promised Temple

The VHP today said it would support the Congress in future if its president Sonia Gandhi pilots a private member’s Bill in Parliament for a country-wide ban on cow slaughter.

‘‘VHP, as also the Hindu community, will rally behind Congress if Sonia Gandhi brings a Bill in her individual capacity for banning cow slaughter in the country. She should take this initiative to win the support of Hindus,’’ VHP leader Acharya Dharmendra said. ‘‘Though VHP had planned not to work for any party in Assembly polls in four states, it would support those serving the Hindu cause,’’ he added.

Meanwhile in Kolkata, VHP international vice-president Acharya Giriraj Kishore claimed that UP CM Mulayam Singh Yadav had promised him that he would build the Ram temple at Ayodhya. ‘‘We met at the party thrown on the occasion of the wedding of the son of BJP leader Vasundhara Raje Scindia and there Mulayamji told me: ‘‘Acharyaji, Mandir hum banayenge, aap ki party nahi’’

We will build the temple, not your party),’’ the VHP leader said. ‘‘Though politicians are known for breaking promises, still we hope the UP Chief Minister keeps his promise now,’’ Kishore added.