PM Announces 15-Member Trust for Ayodhya Ram Temple
NEW DELHI : Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced in Parliament on Wednesday the formation of a trust for the construction of a Ram Temple in Ayodhya as directed by the Supreme Court in its landmark verdict in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case last November.
“I am happy to announce that in the cabinet meeting today morning, we took significant decisions on the Ayodhya trust. As per the orders of the Supreme Court, we have set up a trust. The Sri Ram Janma Bhumi Tirtha Shetra will be the name of the trust. It will be an independent body,” Modi said.
“Aiye, Aiye (come, come). Let us all support construction of grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya,” he said, to desk-thumping and shouts of “Jai Shri Ram” from the government benches. “I salute the 130 crore people of India,” said the PM, adding that in India, everyone, be it Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Parsis or Jains, was part of one “broad family”.
In India, everyone is a part of one “broad family”, be it Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Parsis or Jains, Modi said. “We have taken another big step for Ram Mandir pilgrims. We are allocating over 67 acres of land near the mandir area to the trust,” he added.
“The central government has taken another big step for Ram temple pilgrims. We are allocating over 67 hectares of land near the temple area to the trust. The government wants people of all religions and communities in India to thrive,” Modi added.
The announcement, two days before Delhi votes in assembly elections followed by a communally charged campaign amid anti-CAA unrest, is likely to ruffle opposition feathers.
Sources, meanwhile, told that in keeping with the rest of the SC order, the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has allotted five acres of land to the Sunni Central Waqf Board to build a mosque in Ayodhya.
In its historic judgment on November 9, the Supreme Court had directed the central government to formulate a scheme with necessary provisions for the setting up of a trust with a board of trustees or any other appropriate body. The apex court had said a trust should be formed within three months for the construction of the temple at the site where many Hindus believe Lord Ram was born.
Commenting on the timing of the announcement, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi said, Sunni Waqf Board shouldn’t not take the five-acre land. ”Seems like the BJP is worried abut Delhi election.”
Reports, however, quoted Election Commission officials as saying that the announcement does not violate poll code since the Supreme Court had given the government time till February 9 to make the announcement.
Meanwhile, The Uttar Pradesh government today alloted that land for a mosque. The land is situated in Dhannipur village on the Lucknow highway, about 18 kilometres from the Ayodhya district headquarters, state government spokesperson Shrikant Sharma told reporters, reports news agency PTI.
