PM Modi announces setting up a trust for construction of a temple at the birth place of Ram

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced in Parliament on Wednesday, 05 February 2020 formation of a trust for the construction of a Ram Temple in Ayodhya as directed by the Supreme Court’s judgement on the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case on November 9, 2019.The apex court has given three months timeline to implement its order. Media quoted Election Commission officials as saying that the announcement does not violate poll code since the Supreme Court had given the government time till February 9 to make the announcement.“I am happy to announce that in the cabinet meeting today morning, we took significant decisions on the Ayodhya trust. As per the orders of the Supreme Court, we have set up a trust. The Sri Ram Janma Bhumi Tirtha Shetra will be the name of the trust. It will be an independent body,” Modi said. In India, everyone is a part of one “broad family”, be it Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Parsis or Jains, Modi said. “We have taken another big step for Ram Mandir pilgrims. We are allocating over 67 acres of land near the mandir area to the trust,” he added. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the trust would comprise 15 members, including a Dalit representative who would be in-charge of the entire 67-acre land. News18 citing sources says as per the SC order, the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has already allotted five acres of land to the Sunni Central Waqf Board to build a mosque in Ayodhya. The Supreme Court had directed the central government to formulate a scheme with necessary provisions for the setting up of trust with a board of trustees or any other appropriate body, the functioning of the trust, the powers of the trustees, transfer of land to the trust and all necessary, incidental and supplemental matters. Commenting on the timing of the announcement, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi said  “Session of Parliament will end on February 11, the announcement could have come after Delhi assembly election on February 8 adding the Sunni Waqf Board shouldn’t take the five-acre land. “The Supreme Court is supreme and not infallible. PM’s announcement is a violation of the Model of Conduct.” U P Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath says the trust will be an independent body, capable of taking all decisions regarding the construction of the temple. “Thank you to Modi ji for setting up an autonomous trust to build a grand temple at the birthplace of Lord Shri Ram. The ‘Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra’ trust will be completely independent and capable of taking all decisions related to temple construction.