Ayodhya: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on April 30 said it would consider distancing itself from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Ayodhya issue in a bid to gain support from all political parties and would exert pressure on them to bring a bill in the Monsoon session of Parliament to facilitate construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya.

The VHP hinted it could also consider spearheading the temple movement independently, as the impression that it was BJP's agenda had adversely affected the movement.

After a two-day meeting of sants and dharmacharyas on the temple issue, VHP international president Ashok Singhal told reporters that they would contact leaders of various parties in the next three months in an attempt to convince them to enact a legislation in this regard.

Singhal said BJP had created an impression as if the temple movement was launched by the party, "which is not correct".

He said it was not L K Advani's rath yatra, which enabled the temple movement to gather momentum, but the sacrifices made by the ram 'bhakts'.

"BJP just created a false impression and was able to gain political advantage," Singhal said.

Senior VHP leader Mahant Vaidya Nath, who was also present at the press conference said despite the fact that majority of MPs in parliament are Hindus, a legislation could not be enacted for temple construction as the BJP had created the impression that it was their movement.

He said VHP would now consider spearheading the movement independently.

PTI