Ayodhya: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Ashok Singhal on June 1 said the organisation would launch a "massive" nationwide movement next month to press for the construction of a Ram temple.

"Saints and religious leaders will actively participate in 'raksha sankalp' (defence pledge) programmes in two lakh villages across the country and 'raksha sutra' (defence thread) will be tied on the hands of about two crore Hindus to affirm their pledge to participate in the movement," the VHP international working president said.

Singhal said all preparations were being made to hold a two-day 'raksha sankalp sutra' programme from June 9 during which saints would be given two crore 'raksha sutras' to be distributed in different parts of the country.

A photograph of the model of the proposed Ram Janambhumi temple would also be given to two crore Hindus by VHP teams, he said.

Singhal said a meeting of the VHP's high-powered committee was expected to be held in New Delhi on July 11 to decide the next phase of the movement.

He also attacked BJP for "failing to fulfill" its pledge for construction of Ram temple.

About the ongoing excavation work at the disputed site, Singhal said a large number of artifacts and archaeological evidence had emerged to prove that a Hindu temple existed there.

PTI