VHP calls for drive to raise funds for temple

PRAYAGRAJ: Soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke in the Lok Sabha, announcing the formation of a trust for the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) sent out a call for a nationwide drive to raise funds for the temple’s construction.

“The Hindu Samaj will contribute funds for the temple construction under the supervision of the newly formed trust,” said VHP’s senior office-bearers.

Modi announced the formation of the trust, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kehstra to construct the temple, as directed by the Supreme Court in its landmark verdict in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case in last November; the trust will have 15 members from different sections of the society, including a representative of the Dalit community.

“As proposed by VHP, the trust should now announce the start of a campaign to collect donations of ₹11 and a brick from every Hindu across the country, which will ensure the participation of every member of the Hindu community in the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya,” said Surendra Jain, joint general secretary, VHP. He said the bricks collected as part of the Ram Temple campaign since 1989 will be also used in the construction as they signify people’s faith.

On the possibility of Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas chief Mahant Nritya Gopal Das being made president of the new trust, Jain said, “We want this announcement to come from the government and not us.” The Nyas was set up by the VHP in 1993 as part of the movement for the temple.

VHP’s Sangathan Mantri (organisation secretary), Uttar Pradesh, Ambrish Singh said it was decided in the Dharam Sansad held during the Kumbh Mela in 1989 that the contribution of every Hindu was a must for the construction of the Ram Temple, after which ‘Shila Pujan’ was conducted in nearly 2.75 lakh villages across the country. “Now it is time for all Hindus to come forward and register their participation in temple construction through fund and brick donations,” he added.

The President of Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, an apex body of Hindu saints, Mahant Narendra Giri also welcomed the formation of the trust. Since 1989, the VHP has collected around ₹8.25 crore from 60 million people.

“The money has been spent over the past three decades in making preparations for the temple construction...,” said VHP’s vice president Champat Rai.