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Lucknow: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Supremo Ashok Singhal on September 30 made a scathing attack on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders charging them with "hypocrisy and doublespeak" on the Ram temple issue even as he warned the Uttar Pradesh government of dire consequences if it obstructed the outfit's October 17 programme in Ayodhya.

Terming the saffron party's leaders as "hypocrites", Singhal told reporters, "The NDA (National Democratic Alliance) is hostile to Ram temple agenda. BJP should clarify whether it supports the Ram temple or not. Its leaders should not talk with a forked tongue - giving statement in favour of the temple outside Parliament and doing a somersault in the House."

He said a legislation to facilitate construction of Ram temple was possible if Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee so desired.

"Vajpayee has a political stature...if he wishes, a legislation in favour of Ram temple construction could be passed," he said.

He, however, said VHP would not allow any political party to draw mileage from the Ayodhya issue. "Political parties themselves have to decide whether to support our resolve to construct the Ram temple."

Singhal also warned the state government of "grave consequence" if it banned the proposed VHP programme at Ayodhya on October 17.

"We have planned to organise a peaceful programme at Ayodhya but if VHP activists are prevented from reaching there, the situation may go out of hands," he cautioned.

PTI