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Advani attacks VHP trident programme

New Delhi May 2. The Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, today took a critical view of the VHP's `trishul programme', saying it marred the organisation's image, even as efforts were made to hammer out a consensus on key economic issues and Ayodhya on the second day of the Sangh Parivar conclave here today.

In his brief address to the 55-odd participants at the three-day meeting, Mr. Advani wondered whether the VHP was acquiring the image of a trident-distributing organisation and whether it was good for its image, which had several "positive aspects", including the `ekal vidyalayas' (single teacher schools in remote areas), highly-placed RSS sources told PTI. He wondered whether the VHP was acquiring the image unwittingly or consciously wanted to go ahead with it, the sources said.

The VHP international working president, Ashok Singhal, and secretary-general, Praveen Togadia, silently heard Mr. Advani's counsel, the sources said, adding that both the leaders did not respond.

The sources said the Swadeshi Jagran Manch leaders, S. Gurumurthy and Murlidhar Rao, expressed serious reservations over the Government's economic policies, particularly on divestment of the strategic oil sector.

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