Lucknow: Asserting that Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's stand on the Ram temple issue had not been in accordance with the sentiments of Hindus, VHP on September 28 said the decisions taken by Vajpayee with regard to the temple movement have caused a severe damage to his credibility.

VHP president Ashok Singhal told reporters that the temple issue was a religious movement and those supporting it had benefitted while others had to suffer.

Speaking on the sidelines of the outfit's "Kendriya Margdarshak Mandal", he said the Prime Minister's "decisions greatly harmed his party".

"Vajpayee, by adopting a confrontationist attitude, had to suffer greatly," Singhal said in an oblique reference to the performance of the BJP in recent Assembly elections.

He said the Prime Minister will have to work hard to regain his credibility and fulfil the aspirations of the Hindu community.

Singhal also criticised BJP for "opposing" the VHP-sponsored nationwide shutdown in the wake of terrorist attack on the Swaminarayan temple in Gujarat.

PTI