New Delhi, Oct 07: Asserting that its campaign for Ram temple was non-political, VHP today said that it would play no role in the forthcoming assembly elections in five states and no political party would be allowed to take advantage of the temple movement. It also gave a veiled warning to the Centre that 'ramlalla' would decide the next prime minister if it failed to bring in a legislation for temple construction at Ayodhya.

"In the states going to polls, the Ram Janmabhoomi movement will not have any role. None will be allowed to take advantage of the movement," senior VHP leader Pravin Togadia told a press conference here.
He said that neither he nor any VHP leader would address any election meeting in any of these states.

Demanding that both ruling and opposition parties should exert pressure on the Centre for a legislation to pave the way for construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya, Togadia said thousands of 'Rambhaktas' would leave Delhi and Lucknow on October 15 to converge at Ayodhya two days later to hold a "peaceful" demonstration there.

He said that the government should provide free train journey to the devotees just as Haj subsidy was given to Muslims. The VHP leader said after the ASI excavations showing presence of temple at the Babri mosque site, it was expected that Muslims would beg pardon from Hindus and withdraw their case from the court.

"But since they have not met the aspirations of the Hindus, we are forced to embark on the path of movement," he said adding that "our patience is running out and every village in the country may turn into an Ayodhya".

Bureau Report