May even approach Rahul Gandhi for Ram temple donation: VHP
PRAYAGRAJ: Donations would be sought from every Hindu in the country for construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya and even Congress leader Rahul Gandhi may be approached for the same, said general secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust Champat Rai on Tuesday.
Rai, who is also vice-president of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), said the campaign to collect fund would commence from Makar Sankranti (January 14) next year and continue till Maghi Purnima (February 27).
“Extensive preparations are being made for undertaking the world’s largest non-governmental and public participatory campaign for collecting funds. Donations will be taken from every Hindu in the country. In 16,000 villages of Kashi region (that covers Prayagraj also as per VHP’s division of the state for its functioning), workers will visit every house and make contact,” he said while talking to reporters in Samgam city.
When asked if donations will also be taken from Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi, Rai said: “We have not fixed any boundary lines and we will go to everyone and workers could even approach him.”
Showing cheques of donation, he said donations of Rs 2 lakh have been given by people of other religions also so there was no limitations.
He said contacts will be made in 16,000 villages of Prayagraj, Mirzapur, Robertsganj, Pratapgarh, Varanasi, Chandauli, Ghazipur, Jaunpur, Amethi, Kaushambi and Sultanpur of Kashi kshetra during this campaign.
There are coupons of Rs 10, 100 and 1000 that the donors can purchase and contribute for construction of the temple. These coupons bear picture of the proposed Ram temple. Even government workers can come forward personally for donations, but government help as such will not be taken in this fund collection initiative any way. Receipts will also be given to those who donate more than Rs 1000. For this, teams of three workers each are being formed, he said.
The amount of donations coming from all over the country will be deposited in the branches of SBI, Punjab National Bank (PNB) and Bank of Baroda (BoB).
Rai said the workers would deposit the money within 48 hours of collecting the same and an arrangement was being made so that there was no disruption in this.
Parallel arrangements were also being prepared so that temple construction was not hampered. Three 400 KVA generators each were being installed in Ayodhya. In order to keep the temple safe from the waters of Sarju river, many engineers were working hard to build a strong foundation in the crumbling sand below and to extend the life of the temple.
So far, chief minister Yogi Adityanath has donated of Rs 11 lakh from his own account on March 25. Also, spiritual guru Morari Bapu has donated Rs 11 crore while IPS officer of Patna Kishore Kunal has sent Rs 2 crore and Shiv Sena Mumbai has sent Rs 1 crore.
Also in the day, the headquarters of VHP’s Kashi province that has been built in the Kesar Bhavan for the Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, was inaugurated by Rai.