Thiruvananthapuram: Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) working president Ashok Singhal on April 25 said Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had "betrayed" the Hindus on the issue of Ram temple construction after they assumed power.

"We have been betrayed. We never expected this from them. But history teaches us that those who have betrayed Hindus have paid their price."

Defending distribution of tridents in Rajasthan, he said it was purely a religious work. "We are not against anyone. If Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Laloo Prasad Yadav can distribute lathis (sticks) and others talwars (swords), why can't Hindus distribute tridents symbolically," he asked.

Stating that 'jehadis' were now ruling the roost in the country, he said secularists, who were trying to eradicate India's great civilisation posed the biggest threat to the country. "Secularism has come to mean anti-Hinduism. They are in fact destroying Hinduism," he said.

He said that despite Ram Janmabhoomi issue being entangled in court for the last 15 years, VHP would go ahead with temple construction at Ayodhya as planned.

The 'dharma samsad' of VHP would be held on April 29 and 30 to decide their future course of action.

He said conversion activity was "rampant" in Kerala. "You can profess or propagate a religion but have no right to convert. It is anti- constitutional," he added.

PTI