Hindutva forces will help form next government: Singhal

The next government at the centre will be formed with the support of Hindutva forces after the 2014 general elections, and Narendra Modi could be a catalyst in that, Vishwa Hindu Parishad patron Ashok Singhal said Wednesday.

"In 2014, the government will be formed with the support of the Hindutva forces and Narendra Modi may be a catalyst," Singhal told reporters here.

Responding to a question on his preference for the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) prime ministerial candidate, Singhal said: "It is up to the BJP. It will have to choose an able person who can take the Hindu society forward."

In reply to another query, he said there was a clamour for Modi as the BJP's prime ministerial candidate because of the public support for Hindutva.

"Why is everybody chanting Modi's name everywhere? It is because of the public support for Hindutva," said Singhal, who was the international president of the VHP for over 20 years till he was replaced in late 2011.

On the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government's decision to provide allowances to imams and muazzims, he said: "It (the Trinamool Congress) is yielding under pressure from jihadi elements."

"Not only the Mamata government, the government at the centre, in Assam, Uttar Pradesh, all are living in fear of jihadi elements."

Referring to the recent disturbances in Bangladesh, he said the "Hindu society is under attack from Jamaat-e-Islami".

He urged the West Bengal government to provide relief to those from Bangladesh who are taking shelter in the state.

He blamed the Indian education system, "designed by Thomas Macaulay", for "rampant corruption" and vices like rape.

"At one time, the Indian education system was led by the saints. Macaulay brought in the changes, inherent in which was too much and uncontrolled consumerism, and this resulted in corruption and rape," Singhal said.