Togadia replaces Singhal as VHP's international president

Veteran Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Ashok Singhal has been replaced as the international president of the organisation while its general secretary Pravin Togadia was given a greater responsibility.

Infusing young blood, the VHP board of trustees at their three-day meeting in Kochi chose Raghav Reddy and Togadia as the new international president and international working president respectively.

Champat Rai of Delhi was made international general secretary, Ashok Chowgule of Mumbai unit chosen as the working president (VHP external) while Dinesh Chandra of Delhi made the organisational general secretary, a VHP statement said on Monday after the end of the meeting on Sunday.

Singhal, who was international president for more than two decades, and S Vedantam would now guide the organisation as advisers, the statement said.

The VHP said it was planning to hold statewide public awareness campaign if the government plays "minority bank politics" by giving part of OBC/SC/ST quota to Muslims or Christians through any constitutional amendment.