New Delhi, Oct 13: Mounting pressure on Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, VHP today threatened that the country might be plunged into "communal violence" if the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh governments created hurdles in the plans of 'Ram bhaktas' to reach Ayodhya on October 17 for peaceful 'darshan' of Ram lalla (idol) at the disputed site. "Vajpayee government should allow Ram bhaktas to go to Ayodhya and the Mulayam Singh Yadav government should allow them to have darshan of Ram lalla. Otherwise, if the country plunges into communal violence, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will be responsible," senior VHP leader Pravin Togadia told reporters here.

Asked if his remarks did not amount to threatening the government, the VHP leader said, "I am only apprising the government of the position".
To a question as to why he was sparing Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani from criticism, he said since Vajpayee was the head of the government "I feel the Prime Minister is directly responsible for any atrocity on Hindus".

To a pointed question that deployment of forces was the job of home ministry and that Ram bhaktas were being stopped from proceeding towards Ayodhya, he said, "the Prime Minister (after return from his foreign tour) has not stopped the repressive action against the Hindus" and over 10,000 Ram bhaktas have been arrested.
"Vajpayee should decide whether he is supporting Mulayam Singh Yadav or the Ram bhaktas. People will not tolerate any double standard," he said and accused both of them of carrying out repression on Hindus.

Bureau Report