New Delhi: Asserting its country wide trident distribution programme was "unstoppable", the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on May 2 said the unhappiness expressed by Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani over the programme would not be a "determining factor".

The sangh parivar outfit also announced its leaders would meet MPs beginning May 5, to seek their support for a legislation to facilitate construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya.

"Happiness is subjective. Our programme is not to please Advani. Who is happy or unhappy is not a determining factor," VHP central secretary in charge of Bajrang Dal Surendra Jain told reporters, when asked about the reported unhappiness expressed by the Deputy Premier.

Claming that 'trishul diksha' was the "convocation programme" of the Bajrang Dal and the oath administered to the volunteers on the occasion clearly stated that the tridents would not be misused, Jain said, "As per Arms Act 1959 and Arms Rule 1962, any object with a blade smaller than nine inches will not be considered a weapon and as such any ban on tridents would be illegal and anti-constitutional."

Charging the Congress with suffering from "Gujarat phobia", the VHP leader said the ban on 'trishul diksha' by the Rajasthan government was "politically motivated with the objective of appeasing the Muslim vote bank".

Asked whether the Congress threat to oppose the proposed 'trishul diksha' programme by VHP firebrand leader Praveen Togadia in Delhi on May 4 could lead to violence, he said, "We will not be responsible. We have taken the requisite permission from the authorities concerned."

PTI