Trust should raise funds from devotees for Ayodhya Ram Temple: VHP

According to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the trust that will be formed by the Centre for the making of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya should appeal for a donation from the devotees to raise funds for the temple. "The VHP is of the view that government should not spend any money on temple construction," said Alok Kumar, VHP's international working president.

Kumar was responding to a query about how the Vishwa Hindu Parishad would want the funds required for the construction of the temple to be generated. "The VHP view is that the government should not spend any money on temple construction. I have seen some reports in the paper that VHP will generate the funds. It will not happen that way. VHP is not constructing the temple. So, the trust entrusted with the task will construct the temple," Kumar stated.

Adding further he said, "Our insistence is that the entire money should come from devotees and no government fund should be spent on it. I believe that if the trust set up (for) this job issues an appeal, requisite money can be raised."

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'Let the government decide the rest' - Alok Kumar

When asked about who all will be the members of the trust, VHP's International President stated that it has to be the Central Government's call. "Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas trust is there and Nirmohi Akhara representatives or representative will be there. Rest will be decided by the government," stated the VHP leader. Alok Kumar also gave a sharp reaction to the reports from Muslim groups about the possibility of filing a review petition in the Ayodhya land dispute case and whether or not to accept the five-acre land that will be given to form a mosque, as per the direction of the top court. 

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Meanwhile, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board is scheduled to meet on November 17 to discuss the issue of the review petition and the five-acre land. "Supreme Court has given them five acres, it is double the size of Delhi's Jama Masjid. It was VHP's considered stand that mosque was to be built outside '84 Kosi parikrama'. The Supreme Court in its wisdom has asked the land to be given in Ayodhya. It is up to them to accept or not," said Kumar who believes that the review petition won't see success.

"The dispute has reached a terminus. The graceful thing will be accepting the judgment," Kumar said. 

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(With inputs from ANI)