PM heads ministers’ meet on Ayodhya temple trust
NEWDELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday chaired a meeting with a small group of Union ministers to deliberate on the setting up of a trust that will have the mandate to decide on all matters related to the construction of a Ram Temple in Ayodhya, said a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) functionary familiar with the matter and who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Tuesday’s meeting starts the process of setting up the trust, which will be under the purview of the Union ministry of home affairs.
On Saturday, the Supreme Court, in its order on the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit, gave the government three months from the date of the judgment to set up such a trust.
“The apex court has given the central government the powers to decide [on] issues related to the land and construction. So as per the directions of the court, if the centre needs to purchase additional land around the site for the construction of the temple, it can do so,” said another person aware of the development who asked not to be named.
The SC, in its judgment, said,
“…the Central Government will be at liberty to make suitable provisions in respect of the rest of the acquired land by handing it over to the trust or body for management and development in terms of the scheme framed in accordance with the above directions.”
Even as the government is yet to reach out to stakeholders such as the Ramjanamabhoomi Nyas to take on board their suggestions, the VHP, which set up the Nyas, wants the government to be kept out of the trust that will be formed.
Surendra Jain, international joint general secretary of the
VHP, which led the campaign for the construction of the Ram Temple, said the body wants the government to ensure that “only Hindus” are part of the trust and that “instead of government representatives they should take on board members of socio-religious bodies”.
“We also want the trust that will be set up to construct the temple as per the model that was designed by Chandrakant Sompura, use the stones that have been collected and carved over the years to be used for the grand temple and use only funds collected by the people,” Jain said.