Hindu priests object to VHP's backing Modi as PM candidate

: An influential group of Hindu priests Monday objected to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (

) projecting Gujarat Chief Minister

as a prime ministerial candidate in the next general election.

Bharat Sadhu Samaj general secretary Swami Harinarayanand said VHP leader Ashok Singhal's statement in Allahabad last week was "highly objectionable".

"It was against the norms and sanctity of pilgrim places," Harinarayanand told newspersons after returning from the Maha Kumbh in Allahabad.

He was responding to Singhal's statement that Modi enjoys the same popularity as that of the first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. Claiming that people across the country wanted Modi as prime minister, Singhal also called the Gujarat chief minister "Hindu Hriday Samrat (one who rules Hindu hearts)".

Such a campaign at a pilgrim centre, Harinarayanand said, was against the sanctity of sadhu orders.

It can be mentioned here that Nitish Kumar, the chief minister of Bihar and his party, the JD(U), have been vocal against projecting Modi as the NDA' prime ministerial candidate and are in favour of projecting a 'secular' face.

IANS