Tridents can be used for religious purposes, but if it crosses religious limits constitutional provisions will have to be used, Minister of State for Home Swami Chinmayanand said on Tuesday.

Asked to comment on distribution of tridents by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the minister said that tridents were a part of religion. Taking a dig at the Rashtriya Janata Dal he said lathis do not enjoy any such status. The RJD had recently distributed lathis to its cadres to counter the trishul distribution campaign of the VHP.

"The VHP is a social and cultural organisation towards which my responsibility will remain as before. But, maintaining the decorum of my ministry will be paramount," he said. 

On the Ayodhya issue, he said, "The Prime Minister (Atal Bihari Vajpayee) understands it better. I shall be guided by his views."

Asked if his joining the Union Council of Ministers would give a boost to Hindutva, he said, "If it does so, my joining the government will be fruitful."