Adding to the discomfiture of the Vajpayee government, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh on Tuesday came out in support of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad on the Ayodhya dispute.

The VHP has refused to give up its claims on the Kashi and Mathura temples and has opposed opening of Archaeological Survey of India-managed sites to Muslims for prayers in return for a negotiated settlement to build a Ram temple in Ayodhya.

The RSS stand comes a day after VHP leaders charged the Vajpayee government with appeasing Muslims with the aim of retaining power in the coming assembly and Lok Sabha polls.

"The RSS fully supports the VHP stand on these issues as the (reported government) move to allow namaz in these mosques would only open old wounds and would not help in resolving issues," RSS spokesman Ram Madhav said after a meeting between VHP leaders Ashok Singhal and Pravin Togadia with RSS chief K S Sudarshan in Delhi on Tuesday.

Madhav said the VHP leaders had a detailed discussion with Sudarshan on the developments regarding the Ayodhya dispute.

PTI