Lucknow: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on August 23 criticised the secular allies of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for not supporting the Bill to ban cow slaughter, saying "it reflected their lack of concern for emotions of Hindus".

Addressing a press conference in Lucknow, VHP general secretary Praveen Togadia said that apart from Congress, the stand of the NDA allies Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Janata Dal-United (JD-U), which did not support the Bill, prevented introduction of the Bill in the Monsoon session of Parliament.

On Ram temple, Togadia said VHP's high-powered committee and the 'Margdarshak Mandal' would meet in New Delhi on September 14 and 15 to decide the future course of action.

However, he said with the government not bringing in a legislation in this regard, the only way left was to build a mass movement.

"The people of the country would now have to be ready for a mass agitation," said Togadia, who tied 'Ram Raksha Sankalp Sutras' symbolising a pledge for construction of Ram temple to VHP workers at a function.

On the ban imposed on his visit in some states, the VHP leader said it had been done with an aim on Muslim votes.

Togadia said he would challenged the Bihar government's decision in this regard in the high court.

Asserting that he too had a right to speak, the VHP leader said there was nothing wrong in distribution of tridents. Even the Jodhpur High Court in Rajasthan, where tridents have been banned, has ruled that 'trishul' is not a weapon, he said.

PTI