Ajmer: Soon after his release from prison on bail on condition that he would not defy the ban on trident distribution in Rajasthan, an unrelenting Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Pravin Togadia on April 22 announced the programme would continue in the state.

"Trishul, the icon of Lord Shiva, has not been named as such in the notification issued by Rajasthan government banning its possession, display and distribution of multi-blade weapon. Therefore, VHP will continue to hold trishul distribution ceremonies in a Democratic and Constitutional way," Togadia told reporters after his release from central jail.

"By branding trishul as a weapon, the Ashok Gehlot government has hurt the sentiments of Hindus for which it would have to pay heavily in the coming elections," he said.

Without committing himself to such distribution events, he refuted suggestions that the VHP programme was being carried out with an eye on the coming Assembly polls.

"Trishuls are being distributed over the last 10-12 years. We have distributed over five lakh tridents not only in Rajasthan, but also in Gujarat, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh," Togadia said and added, "Are there any polls in these states?"

On the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) coming out openly in support of VHP on the "trishul" issue in Rajasthan, he said, "We want even Congress president Sonia Gandhi to be on the side of hindutva. But it is unfortunate if she has decided to maltreat Hindus by adorning the role of Muslim League of pre-partition days. It is for Congress to decide whether to be on the side of jihadis or trishul."

PTI