Togadia admits differences with Gujarat BJP leadership

Vadodara, Feb 17 (UNI) Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) International general secretary Praveen Togadia today candidly admitted that his organisation had differences with the BJP leadership in Gujarat over the issue of ideology.

Talking to reporters on the concluding day of the two-day national conclave of VHP's 6500-odd Sewa Project heads at Sokhda Swaminarayan temple, near here, he however, clarified that VHP had no enmity with those not subscribing to its idelogy and policies.

Without naming Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Mr Togadia, who was very critical of the former prior to state Assembly polls last year and reportedly asked the Sangh parivar members not to campaign for BJP in the elections, said VHP would not like to keep any relation with those not supporting their views and ideology.

''It is not the priority of VHP to indulge in politics. Our priority is to fight for the cause of the Hindus and protect their religion and culture by all means. We stick to our priorities. And as part of our movement, I was spearheading the Ram Setu agitation for the last six months moving around the country,'' he said.

Asked whether VHP would support BJP in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, he said the Sangh parivar would certainly declare its policy before the general elections.

Taking strong exception to the controversial Setu Samudram project, Mr Togadia said the central government now would not dare to destroy the Ram Setu following the December 30 VHP rally in Delhi. He warned the UPA government not to move ahead with the project for mere political gains, which could trigger a Ayodhya-like situation.

The two-day conference of the VHP Sewa project heads, which was attended among others by Ashok Singhal and Mohan Bhagwat, decided to expand its activities in a big way by opening more number of orphanages, educational institutions and medical services, mostly in remote areas across the country to benefit the weaker sections of society.

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