New Delhi: In a clear message to Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) which has vowed to defy the Election Commission (EC) ban on its yatra, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on November 15 asked "all organisations" to honour the ban and said that Godhra and the violence after it should not be made election issue in Gujarat.

"The government of Gujarat has done the right thing by acting as per the directive of the Election Commission to prohibit religious processions in the state ahead of the Assembly elections on December 12.

"I appeal to all organisations to honour this directive issued by the Constitutional authority and help the state administration in discharging its duty," Vajpayee said, in a statement, a day after VHP decided to defy the Commission's ban and go ahead with its 'padshahi yatra' from Godhra on November 17.

Disagreeing with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticism of the Commission's decision, the Prime Minister said, "On the face of it, the decision might look wrong but given the circumstances in Gujarat, the ban order is alright."

In his statement, Vajpayee said, "With elections less than a month away, it is natural for political and social organisations to want to go among the people and conduct their campaign. It is their Democratic right.

"However, it is also the Democratic duty of one and all to exercise it in a lawful way. Even protest has to be expressed in a peaceful manner without inflaming passions. It is only through scrupulous obedience of the law that we can enhance the prestige and efficacy of our Democracy," he said.

Vajpayee said anyway the people of Gujarat would give their verdict soon and there was no need for making allegations and counter allegations.

"I urge all political parties and organisations to focus their election campaign on issues of development and governance and not on matters that vitiate the atmosphere. I do hope that after the state government's decision all concerned would work towards peaceful conclusion of the polls," he said.

Asked about the VHP announcing its decision to go ahead with the yatra, Vajpayee said that the Gujarat government had initially given permission to it but later thought it fit not to allow it after assessing the situation.

"I hope all parties and outfits will abide by it," the Prime Minister later told a private TV channel.

He said that he was in constant touch with the Gujarat government and had advised everyone to concentrate on the polls and not take any steps that may fan passions and disrupt the poll process.

On the path chosen by VHP, Vajpayee said, "It is difficult to say what it will do... But I feel things will settle down with attention being focussed on the elections."

To a question about degeneration in Gujarat politics, he said, "It was happening all over the country and not just in Gujarat."

Regarding the poll campaign in the state, Vajpayee said elections should be fought on development issues and not by inflaming emotions.

He asserted that Godhra cannot and should not be made an election issue. "If it is done, it will look like there is no other issue and votes are being played with like a toy."

Expressing the hope that the elections will usher in a "new beginning" for Gujarat, the Prime Minister said it should bring communal harmony and end political instability in the state.

PTI