Beginning on an aggressive note, VHP's dharam sansad (religious meet) to decide the future course of the Ram temple movement, on Saturday demanded renaming India as Hindustan and 'restoration of honour of the Hindu rashtra (nation)'.

"One crore Ram bhakts (devotees) should be mobilised for restoring the honour of the Hindu rashtra for which they should be ready to sacrifice anything, even their lives," VHP leader Pravin Togadia said at the meet in Delhi.

"We need to rename India as Hindustan so that India's honour is restored.. It should be declared a Hindu rashtra,"
he said.

Accusing the NDA government of 'appeasing Muslims', Togadia said, "A new Mahabharat has to be fought in which Hindus will be pitted against communists, socialists and beggars of Muslim votes."

He said there was need for a social and political change and called for educating people to eliminate dowry, untouchability and casteism.

PTI