New Delhi, Oct 15: VHP refused to give a guarantee in writing sought by the Centre that there would be no violence in the October 17 programme in Ayodhya and said it was "not at all" satisfied with the Centre's actions to remove the "hurdles" in the way of its cadres going to the temple town. "Union Minister of State for Home Swami Chinmayanand spoke to VHP General Secretary Pravin Togadia yesterday on phone and perhaps asked for a written undertaking that the Ram bhakts will remain peaceful but the latter refused to comply saying there was no need for it," VHP spokesman Vireshwar Dwivedi told reporters here.

He said Togadia, in fact, counter posed before the minister, who is the pointsman between the government and the saffron outfit, whether the Prime Minister or the Home Minister could give a written assurance that everything will remain peaceful in the country. To a question whether VHP was satisfied with the steps taken by the Centre to allow its cadres to proceed to Ayodhya, he said, "We are not satisfied at all. If train services are restored, there will be some consolation".

When it was pointed out to him that RSS chief K S Sudarshan had welcomed the initiative taken by the Centre in removing hurdles by way of restoring normal movement of all trains, he said VHP was not aware of restoration of rail services.

Asked about his views on Deputy Prime Miniser L K Advani speaking to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav and advising him not to adopt a confrontationist attitude, he said "it is a step in the right direction". To a question, he denied that VHP leaders had gone underground ahead of the darshan programme.

Bureau Report