New Delhi: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) international working president Ashok Singhal justified the post-Godhra riots in Gujarat and the demolition of the disputed structure at Ayodhya saying the "guilty must be punished".

"We Hindus have tolerated enough. We have taught them (Muslims) a lesson and the Muslims in Gujarat have realised that if they want to carry on with their business and other activities, they will have to live peacefully with Hindus," Singhal told reporters.

Referring to Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani's description of the demolition of the disputed structure at Ayodhya as "shameful", Singhal said, "Both of us were there when the incident took place. Even I was not happy with it. But punishment was important. The guilty must be punished."

The VHP chief said he was not "surprised" by Advani's statement in Parliament on November 18 that India cannot be converted to a Hindu state.

"To overcome the pressures of Parliament, he should keep in mind the prayer we offer in the common organisation (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) to which we belong, that Bharat is a Hindu Rashtra," Singhal said.

He also recalled that it was Advani himself who had coined terms like pseudo- secular. "Advani is a scholar but his statement was most inappropriate," Singhal said.

PTI