Mumbai: Accusing all political parties of ignoring sentiments of Hindu society on Ram temple issue, the VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) on September 24 said the Hindus have been left with no choice but to adopt the path of agitation.

"Despite the ASI's (Archaeological Survey of India) excavation report that a temple existed 3,300 years ago, no political party, rising from their vote-bank politics, has supported the cause of temple construction at Ayodhya," VHP international general secretary Praveen Togadia told reporters in Mumbai.

"Hindus have been left with no choice but to agitate," he said. Those vying to spearhead the temple movement must be prepared for imprisonment, Togadia said when his attention was drawn to Rae Bareli court deciding to frame charges against Union HRD (Human Resource Development) Minister Murli Manohar Joshi and six others.

As part of the VHP's renewed agitational course, nearly 3200 "sankalp (resolve) meetings" would be held across the country. Saints along with Ramsevaks would proceed towards Ayodhya on October 17 chanting slogans "mandir mil gaya, ab mandir banane do", the VHP leader said.

The three-fold agitational programme would aim at construction of Ram temple, fight against jihadi terrorism and against those "secularists" who support terrorism.

VHP would not seek BJP's (Bharatiya Janata Party) support in the Ram temple movement, Togadia said adding that "our appeal to all political parties is that they should hand over the site at Ayodhya to Hindus to facilitate construction of temple".

VHP would not have any role to play in the forthcoming Assembly elections in four states, he said.

PTI