Bhopal: Announcing its support to candidates working to protect the interests of Hindus in the coming Lok Sabha polls, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) today (Jan 29, 2004) vowed to construct Ram temple at Ayodhya despite "lack of backing" from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre.

"We will support Lok Sabha candidates backing VHP's Hindu agenda unveiled recently at Hyderabad meet irrespective of their party affiliations. They should be working to protect the interests of Hindus," VHP's senior vice president Giriraj Kishore told reporters in Bhopal.

Replying a volley of queries, he said VHP is not getting the expected support and backing from the Vajpayee Government, but "Ram temple will be constructed at Ayodhya one day or the other and no force can stop it".

If the Centre shows its willingness, temple can be built "in accordance with people's wish", he said, adding that effort should be made to evolve some formula respecting Hindu sentiments and facilitating temple construction.

The VHP leader said a grand 'Ram maha yagna' would be held at Ayodhya on the occasion of the forthcoming Ram Navami, in which over 10 lakh devotees from different parts of the country are expected to participate.

On the Hindu agenda demands adopted at a VHP meeting in Hyderabad, Kishore claimed that Hindus are being treated as "second class citizens in their own country and are victims of all attacks in the name of secularism".

Financial assistance is given for Haj, but there is no such help for Hindus who are taxed during religious events like kumbh, he said adding, "People's money should not be spent on any particular community. Money earned from religious places should not be diverted elsewhere."