Govt appeasing Muslims: VHP

Accusing the government of trying to appease Muslims, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad on Monday said the government was using Kanchi shankaracharya Swami Jayendra Saraswati as a 'tool' to further its electoral objectives.

"The shankaracharya has been kept in the dark (about the intricacies of the Ayodhya dispute)," thundered VHP international president Ashok Singhal at a press conference in Delhi.

"The government is trying to appease Muslims," he said.

 "The Bharatiya Janata Party should come out of the National Democratic Alliance if it is serious about constructing the Ram temple in Ayodhya," he insisted.

VHP international general secretary Pravin Togadia said it seemed the government, led by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, was ready to concede anything to Muslims with the hope of reaping electoral benefits.

"The government has agreed to give thousands of Archaeological Survey of India-managed monuments to Muslims for prayers and there is even a proposal for introducing reservations for Muslims."

"The VHP will not accept Muslim veto in India and political forces (within the country) should be ready to account for their actions," Togadia said.