NEW DELHI, 10 May 2003 — Vishwa Hindu Parishad yesterday claimed the support of nearly 100 members of Parliament, including those from non-NDA parties, on any legislation to facilitate the early construction of a Ram temple at Ayodhya.

Hard-line Hindu groups, which started their “mass contact program” with parliamentarians on March 5 as part of the second phase of their agitation for the construction of the temple at the site where the Babri Mosque once stood, claimed “enthusiastic response” from the MPs.

“Our activists from different provinces are approaching MPs and about 100 of them have signed on to our program, agreeing to actively participate in bringing about relevant legislation and ensuring its passage in both houses,” Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s Rajendra Singh said.

The MPs included those from the BJP, Shiv Sena, NDA allies and “even opposition parties”, he claimed.

Singh, however, declined to name the MPs from the opposition parties, saying it would “affect the mission.”

He said the campaign, which concludes today, would be extended by another fortnight to enable the VHP workers to meet their elected representatives in their constituencies.

“Once it is complete in May, religious leaders will meet in June those MPs who have not signed in. Further, key social leaders from different constituencies will meet their local MPs and urge them to sign the consent form,” he said.

Following its “satyagraha” (agitation) in Delhi, VHP at a meeting in Ayodhya on April 30 had decided to embark on a campaign to “prepare” MPs for legislation on the issue. The local leaders, who met the MPs here, will submit their report to the VHP top brass today.

Meanwhile, in the wake of attack on many important issues from within Parliament, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani yesterday advised NDA constituents against openly criticizing government policies. They should raise them at appropriate forums, he said.

“Whatever views one may have, there should be no public criticism. It should be done at the appropriate forum,” he said launching BJP`s Sahyog (cooperation) cell which will see regular interaction between party ministers and cadres.

At a recent three-day meeting of Hindu hard-liners, which was attended by the top leadership of the BJP, RSS, VHP, SJM and BMS, Advani said, “This was a conscious effort by the ‘parivar’ to have synergy among the ideological family and such meetings will be held on a regular basis.”