Thursday, March 30 2006 16:22 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: The VHP's Tamil Nadu unit today (Mar 30, 2006) alleged that both the AIADMK and the DMK had ignored the demands of the over six lakh village priests in the state.

The village priests are demanding a separate welfare board, among other things.

In a statement, VHP state Vice President S Vdeantam said on March 18 a 'Hindu Protection' conference was held in Erode where resolutions were adopted on demands of the Hindus, including that of the village priests.

The resolutions were sent to political parties for their consideration, but neither the AIADMK nor the DMK had included these demands in their respective manifestos, he said.

The previous DMK government had decided to set up a separate welfare board for village priests, but before the decision was executed, it was voted out of power. The AIADMK, which came to power in 2001, "due to its political opposition to the DMK" did not set up the board, he said.