The Vishwa Hindu Parishad is trying to gain political mileage through its October 17 programme in Ayodhya, Gyan Das, mahant of the Hanumangarhi Temple and state president of the Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple Reconstruction Samiti, said on Tuesday.

According to him, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vjapayee had "extended moral support" to the VHP by saying that everyone should trust the saffron outfit's claim that the programme would be peaceful.

Das took a padyatra of Muslim-dominated areas in Ayodhya and assured the minorities that their safety would be ensured during the programme.

The mahant, accompanied by senior Muslim leaders, started the padyatra from the house of Hashim Ansari, main plaintiff in Ayodhya case, in Kaziana locality and passed through Gadiwantola, Begumpura and Nazarbagh.

He said he undertook the padyatra on the directions of the head priest of the Hanumangarhi Temple, Mahant Ramesh Das.