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It also charged Chief Election Commissioner J M Lyngdoh of "acting at the Vatican's behest."
"There cannot be anything more unfortunate for democracy than the prime minister choosing to endorse Lyngdoh's stand," senior VHP leader Dharmendra told reporters in Ahmedabad.
"The prime minister's appeal has inflicted a wound on Hindu society as he was indirectly supporting the unconstitutional means being adopted by Lyngdoh," he said.
"If he (Vajpayee) has no faith in us, we (VHP) too do not trust him," he added.
Accusing Lyngdoh of 'kidnapping' the Gujarat administration, he said, "Free and fair polls is his (Lyngdoh's) responsibility, but no society has given a bureaucrat the right to object to anything that saints do."
"It seems that this super bureaucrat has taken a firm resolve to insult Hindus," Dharmendra said.
During the course of the press conference, Dharmendra repeatedly referred to the CEC as 'James Michael Lyngdoh' to emphasise his Christian identity.
Referring to Lyngdoh's recent remarks about the situation in Gujarat, he said, "Saying that the situation in Gujarat is worse than Kashmir is the biggest lie and Lyngdoh is cheating democracy by making such statements."
"The prime minister and Communists may pat the CEC's back for banning the yatra, and the Congress, for its electoral gains, may term him a messiah, but the VHP is not ready to obey his orders," he said.
Dharmendra said the CEC was indulging in 'constitutional blackmailing' by banning the dharam yatra (religious march).
Alleging that Lyngdoh was acting at the behest of Vatican, the headquarters of the Catholic church to which he belongs, Dharmendra said VHP was not bound by the CEC's directions and that its decision on the 'Vijay yatra' was irreversible.
Dharmendra, who was flanked by the outfit's secretary general Pravin Togadia, said Hindu religious leaders would leave for Godhra on Sunday after paying respects to the sandals of Samarth Ramdas, guru of Maratha warrior Shivaji, and offering prayers at Somnath.
He also charged the CEC with 'facilitating' the victory of the Congress, 'which had the release of hardcore militants on its agenda', in Jammu and Kashmir.
EARLIER REPORT Togadia barred from entering Godhra
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