PM announces trust for Ram temple construction in Ayodhya
New Delhi, February 5 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday announced in the Lok Sabha that the government has given approval to a proposal for "Shri Ramjanmabhoomi Tirtha Kshetra" trust to take care of the construction of grand Ram temple in Ayodhya and other related issues.
Modi said that the historic decision was taken on Wednesday morning meeting of the Union cabinet in view of the Supreme Court's November 9 judgement on Ramjanmabhoomi issue.
The Prime Minister said that the trust will have "autonomy" and will be able to take decisions on Ram temple and other related issues "freely". "The trust will be free to take any decision," he said.
Modi also announced that the 67.703 acre land earmarked for the construction of the Ram temple will also be handed over to the trust.
He said that a plan has been prepared for the construction of the temple on Ram "janmasthali".
Prime Minister also said that the Uttar Pradesh government has given approval for five acre land to be handed over to Sunni Central Waqf Board for the construction of a mosque, as directed by the apex court.
"Join me in support of the construction of a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya on this historic occasion," Modi appealed to the members of the House.
Modi said he is happy to share with his fellow Indians that important decisions which was taken with regard to Ram Janmabhoomi. "These are in line with the verdict of the Honourable Supreme Court of India."
PM made the announcement soon after the House assembled for the day at 11 a.m. and it was welcomed by the treasury benches amid clapping, thumping of the desks and slogans of 'Jai Shri Ram'.
Highlighting the Indian culture of inclusiveness, Prime Minister said that people had shown utmost restraint in the aftermath of Ayodhya verdict. "I hail the people of India for exhibiting such restraint," he said.
"Together, let us all work in the direction of building a grand Ram temple," PM said.
He said that all countrymen irrespective of caste, creed or religion -- Hindu, Muslim Sikh -- or anyone are members of a huge family.
"We are all members of one family. This is the ethos of India. We want every Indian to be happy and healthy. Guided by 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas', we are working for the welfare of every Indian," the Prime Minister said.
On November 9 last year, the Supreme Court in a historic judgment gave the Ramjanmabhoomi to Hindus for the construction of a temple rejecting the claims of the Muslims.
The top Court had also given a three-month timeline to set up a trust for a temple at Ramjanmabhoomi where the 16th century Babri mosque stood before it was razed by Hindu activists in December 1992.
Sunni Waqf Board decision on land not of all Muslims: AIMPLB
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) said on Wednesday that the Sunni Waqf Board, which will get five acres of land in Ayodhya for the construction of a mosque, is not the representative of the entire Muslim community.
The AIMPLB further said that if the Waqf Board accepts the Centre's offer, it should not be considered as a decision of all the Muslims of the country.
"The Sunni Waqf Board is not the representative of the entire Muslim community. If it takes land, it should not be considered the decision of all Muslims of the country," said Maulana Yasin Usmani, senior executive member of AIMPLB.
He said AIMPLB and those associated with it have already decided that they will not take any land in Ayodhya in lieu of the Babri mosque.
The Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday decided in a cabinet meeting to allot five acres of land to the Sunni Waqf Board for the construction of a mosque in Raunahi, some 20 km from Ayodhya.
The decision is in keeping with the Supreme Court verdict, delivered on November 9 last year, which stated that five acres of land be given to the Sunni Waqf Board for the construction of a mosque.
The land in question is in Dhannipur village in Sohawal tehsil in Ayodhya, located on the Lucknow highway.
"The state government had sent three alternatives for land to the Centre. This one was accepted by the Centre and the state cabinet has approved its allotment. There is good transportation facility to reach there and communal amity and law and order are also good," Uttar Pradesh minister Shrikant Sharma told reporters.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced in the Lok Sabha earlier in the day about the formation of a trust to construct a Ram Temple in Ayodhya as directed by the Supreme Court in its landmark verdict in November.
Modi said, "We have readied a scheme for the development of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. A trust has been formed; it is called 'Shri Ram Janambhoomi Teertha Kshetra."
Ram Mandir trust to have 15 members: Amit Shah
Soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday announced the formation of a trust for the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, Union Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted that the Trust will have 15 members from different sections of the society and among them one will be from the Dalit community.
Amit Shah tweeted that one member of the 15-member Trust will always be from the Dalit community. "I congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this unprecedented decision to strengthen communal harmony," Shah tweeted in Hindi.
Before it, IANS had already predicted that there could be 15 members in the trust to be formed for the Ram temple construction.
"I offer my greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his commitment for the temple which is a symbol of faith and unwavering reverence to Lord Shri Ram," he said in a series of tweets.
He said: "As per the verdict of the Supreme Court, the government has today taken decision to form a trust named Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra showing its determination towards the building of grand temple".
The Prime Minister in the Lok Sabha gave the information of formation of the trust. "The Trust will be free to take decisions about the construction of the temple and related issues," he said.
