Core issues of saffron brigade on front burner

Kendriya Margdarshak Mandal of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad concluded in Haridwar yesterday

As general elections near, core issues of the sangh parivar are back on the political agenda.

With the two-day meet of the Kendriya Margdarshak Mandal of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) concluding in Haridwar yesterday, the saffron brigade has plans to launch agitation on all the issues put on the backburner when the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was in power.

From the Ram Temple to the Article 370, all issues figured in the conclave. The VHP managed to get the support of yoga guru Ramdev. Ramdev not only pledged his support to the Hindutva issues, including the construction of a Ram Temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya, but also attended the conclave.

The Ram Temple issue was high on the agenda. The VHP chief, Ashok Singhal, said sadhus would undertake a 19-day march from August 25 in Uttar Pradesh to pressure the UPA to pass a bill for the construction of the Ram Temple. The padyatra will begin from UP's Basti district and conclude in Ayodhya on September 13.

"The Centre must enact a law to facilitate the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, otherwise, we will hold a Mahakumbh (huge congregation) of sadhus and seers in Ayodhya on October 18 to take a final call on the Ram temple issue", Singhal said.

A resolution to this effect was adopted by the core committee of the VHP at its two-day conference which was presided over by Singhal. The decision to rake up controversial issues is being seen as an attempt by the VHP to brace up for the 2014 general elections. The conference was attended by over 200 VHP office bearers from across the country, including Swami Chinmayanand and Swami Ram Vilas Vedanti.

Singhal also supported Narendra Modi as prime ministerial candidate for the general election.