Saurashtra: Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Union home minister Amit Shah, BJP veteran LK Advani and Gujarat's former Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel on Wednesday evening attended a meeting of the Somnath Temple Trust via video conferencing.
According to reports, the members of the trust discussed a wide range of issues pertaining to the historic temple. At the meeting, it was also decided to reappoint former Gujarat chief minister Keshubhai Patel as chairman of the trust for one year.
Patel, who has been the Chairman of Shri Somnath Trust for a long time, was formally re-elected as the Chairman by consensus.
Modi also tweeted about the meeting. "Participated in the Shree Somnath Trust meeting via video conferencing. We discussed a wide range of issues pertaining to the Temple, including the exceptional community service by the Trust during these times and harnessing of technology to enable more devotees to pray," the PM said.
Modi suggested during the meeting that "Gau-Lok Dham" and all the places in this region associated with Lord Krishna be developed, reports said.
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The trust's assets grew from Rs 249.37 crore to321.09 crore during the year. Against a revenue of 46.29crore, the trust spent Rs 35.80 crore, said the release. Trustees were informed that the temple had donated Rs1 crore to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund to fight coronavirus.
The Board of Trustees also reviewed the work done by Shri Somnath Trust during the Koro period in which the relief cost of Koro of Rs. 2.62 crore was ratified.
It was also discussed that food packets, rations and accommodation arrangements have been made for the devotees and workers from outside the people as well as the Lilavati Bhavan of Shri Somnath Trust has been provided free of cost to the State Government and Health Department since its inception as well as by the Board of Trustees.
An amount of Rs 1 crore was given to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund which was also reviewed by the trust. It is estimated that future-oriented discussions were also held at the meeting of Somnath Trust. When the Prime Minister and the Home Minister are trustees, the Somnath Trust is getting adequate grants under the Central Government's Prasad Yojana. It will not be a surprise if the Somnath Trust witnesses more and more development in the coming days.
The trust manages affairs of the famous Somnath temple of Lord Shiva, situated in Gir-Somnath district of Gujarat. The temple is believed to be the first among the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines of Lord Shiva.
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(With agency inputs)
