Senior Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Praveen Togadia today ducked queries on the likelihood of VHP pressing for projection of Narendra Modi as BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate.
"I will only say the VHP is committed to helping the Hindus achieve what is their due," he told reporters here when asked about the possibility of VHP pitching for Modi as BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate.
"As stated on a number of occasions, we favour a Hindutvavadi Parliament sensitive to the majority community's needs," the VHP international working president said.
On persistent queries on Modi, Togadia quipped "may be this is a question that Rajnath Singh will like to answer."
On VHP leader Ashok Singhal calling Modi "Hindu Hriday Samrat", he said "we are engaged in a collective effort. This is not the time to ponder over personal likes and dislikes".
The VHP core committee has been holding intensive discussions at the Mahakumbh here and a number of issues have been identified as crucial for uplift of the Hindus, Togadia said.
"The construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya obviously tops the list," the firebrand VHP leader said.
"We are mulling over a course of action to thwart the proposed reservation for Muslims, a measure driven by politics of vote-bank and minority appeasement," he said.
"A meeting of our Kendriya Margadarshak Mandal (Central Advisory Committee) tomorrow and the Dharm Sansad on February seven here will deliberate on these issues," he said.
Newly-appointed BJP president Rajnath Singh is likely to visit Maha Kumbh tomorrow where he is scheduled to meet top Sangh Parivar leaders and religious heads.
Togadia, however, said "no political figure has been invited in his or her capacity as such at our functions.
Though as devout Hindus all are welcome to attend the Kumbh and meet anybody they wish to."
Responding to a query on Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed's reported statement on senior BJP leader L K Advani having been born and brought up in what is now Pakistan, Togadia remarked "why does he forget Prime Minister Manmohan Singh."
"I wish to say I am equally proud of Advani and Singh for having shown the courage of abandoning their homelands for protecting their Dharma."