by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group
Ram Temple Trust may be headed by PM Modi
Law Ministry moves to form Temple Trust
Harish Gupta
New Delhi, Nov 11
The government is soon to begin the process of setting up of the Ram Temple Trust and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad is all set to move a Cabinet proposal in this regard. Since the Apex court ordered that the Trust be set up within three months the verdict and the Parliament session is also to begin on November 18, the government has fast tracked the process.
In contrast to the Somnath Temple Trust where the Centre and State government of Gujrat could nominate four Life Trustees each, the Ram Temple Trust will be created solely by the Central government. Interestingly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is member of the Somnath Temple Trust but not its chairman. However, in all likelihood, Ram Temple Trust will be headed by PM Modi and he will be life member. If Somnath Trust has eight members, Ram Temple Trust will have more trustees. The Law Ministry is studying the provisions of the temple trusts across the country to formulate a Deed for the Ram Temple.
The government has to decide two basic things; who all will be part of the Ram Temple Trust and whether the Temple be constructed through government funding or it should be through people’s participation. While the funding will be a ticklish issue as a lot of Hindu organizations would like to be part of it.
The RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat is on record to say that it was not RSS’ task to construct Ram Temple. “But we would certainly give our suggestions with regard to the formation of the trust to the government,” he said.
Most likely it will be a mega body with PM heading it.
It will be interesting to mention that the task of construction of the temple was undertaken K M Munshi, who was the Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, Government of India headed by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and inaugurated by Dr Rajendra Prasad. Later it was handed over to a Trust.
With regard to the funding of the Ram Temple construction, VHP International president Alok Kumar remained non-committal. He said 60% work of pillars and domes of the Temple had been completed in Ayodhya by the VHP. “Now we will await government move,” he said.
Ends
