VHP’s Gujarat agenda: Yatra, vitriol, votes

Reacting to Lyngdoh’s statement to a TV channel that those making communal speeches in Gujarat will be arrested, Jain accused him of political motives: ‘‘If he has political ambitions, he should give up his post and enter politics.”

In Vadodara, VHP leaders took the credit for ‘‘strengthening’’ the Hindutva forces after the Godhra killings and asked the BJP for 30 seats to contest.

VHP leaders said they would like to contest from seats in central and north Gujarat, where a polarisation of votes on communal lines has been seen. Niraj Jain, Haresh Bhatt, Shambhuprasad Shukla, Punambhai Parmar, VHP sources said, are keen to contest. The VHP has 9,000 units and 3.75 lakh members in Gujarat, they said. The state BJP leadership, however, denied receiving any such request.

Jain said that the VHP yatra will urge the people to vote for ‘‘nationalist forces’’. Asked if it would campaign for the BJP or Narendra Modi, he said: ‘‘There is no need to speak in favour of Modi.’’

The VHP leader ridiculed Congress chief Sonia Gandhi’s statement that the riots had hampered development in Gujarat: ‘‘Certain groups in her party were involved in most of the riots in the state. The Congress has an alliance with jehadi elements.’’ Jain lashed out at the NHRC for ‘‘siding with terrorists’’. The NHRC should exercise restraint over its comments on the Ansal Plaza shootout in Delhi, otherwise its credibility will be questioned.