VHP comes out in support of Hazare, but 'only as patriots'

"Anna Hazare's movement against corruption is very good and VHP is part of the movement not as VHP or RSS, but as 'Rashtra Bhaktas (patriots),'" VHP president Ashok Singhal told the media in Kochi.

Singhal is in Kochi in connection with the three-day VHP trustee board meeting from Dec 16.

Describing the proposed Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice and Reparations) 2011 Bill as "unconstitutional," Singhal alleged the Centre's aim of introducing the Bill was to "annihilate the Hindus and divide the Hindu society". "It is against the Constitution and federal structure and it overrides the authority of the state," he said.

He also favoured a new dam being built at Mullaperiyar and said the Kerala and Tamil Nadu governments should come together to find an amicable solution to the issue. "This should not have become an issue at all," he said, adding the Union government should have found a solution to it long ago.

VHP was also against the Tehri dam as it was in the seismic area and if earthquakes took place, the whole of state of Uttar Pradesh would be "wiped off," he said.