Togadia dodges poser on support to political party

Gwalior, Nov 2 (UNI) Vishwa Hindu Parishad General Secretary Praveen Togadia today said the VHP would not provide clear support to any political party until the next general election.

''We are not on the side of any individual or organisation. Our support is to Hindutva and we will consider supporting the political party that includes Hindutva in its poll manifesto and drafts polices on that basis,'' he told journalists prior to addressing a VHP workers' convention here.

Dr Togadia's statement was in response to a question which pointed out that, instead of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Bharatiya Jan Shakti Founder-President Uma Bharti was vociferously raising the Hindutva issue.

''The situation in the BJP has improved somewhat after Mr Rajnath Singh assumed charge but a ''secular virus'' is still observed. I hope that the situation will become clearer in two to three months,'' he added.

Describing as proper the capital punishment awarded to Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru, the VHP leader said that the Centre was encouraging jihadi terrorism and appeasement of minorities by delaying the execution.

''If Afzal is pardoned, the VHP will launch a countrywide agitation and agitate in front of the homes of the political leaders opposing the punishment,'' he warned.

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