VHP defends Ram Mandir trust in land row

The Samajwadi Party and Aam Aadmi Party have alleged that the trust has purchased land worth Rs 2 crores for Rs 18.5 crores. However, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has come forward to defend the temple trust in the matter.

Ayodhya: The Shri Ram Mandir Teerth Kshetra Trust has been accused by the opposition parties of malpractices in the purchase of land. The Samajwadi Party and Aam Aadmi Party have alleged that the trust has purchased the land worth Rs 2 crores for Rs 18.5 crores. Later the Indian National Congress also jumped into this controversy and raised questions on the temple trust as well as the BJP-led government. However, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has come forward to defend the temple trust in the matter.

VHP National Spokesperson, Vijay Shankar Tiwari spoke to ETV Bharat on the issue. He said that the leaders of some opposition parties are unnecessarily giving importance to the whole matter, while transparency has been ensured during the purchase of land. The land, which Sultan Ansari and Ravi Mohan Tiwari, purchased from Kusum Pathak and Harish Pathak for 2 crores, was completed in 2011. However, it was not registered during that time.

He further added that when Supreme Court's decision on the Ram Temple came and the temple construction work started, people started reaching from all over the country to acquire land in Ayodhya and its surrounding areas. Due to this the market price of land around Ayodhya also increased. The land which Sultan Ansari and Ravi Mohan Tiwari got registered with Kusum Pathak and Harish Pathak on March 18, was transferred to Ram Janmabhoomi Trust and was registered on the same day. That's why there is only a difference of few minutes in the time of both the registry.

He added that Anil Mishra, a member of the trust was present as eyewitnesses in the registry along with Rishikesh Upadhyay, the Mayor of Ayodhya, whose signatures are also in the papers. Vijay Shankar Tiwari further said that elections are to be held in Uttar Pradesh next year and opposition parties want to take political advantage out of this issue. The land which has been bought by the trust for 18.5 crores is worth Rs 5.7 crores as per the circle rate. Tiwari said that the market rate of the land is more than Rs 18.5 crore, but till now all the land that has been purchased for temple work has been bought at a price less than the actual market rate.

Meanwhile, terming it as a big case of money laundering and corruption, senior Aam Aadmi Party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh has demanded immediate ED and CBI investigation. Responding to this, a VHP spokesperson said that AAP leader Sanjay Singh's links with organizations like PFI have been confirmed and today he is questioning the trust set up for the Ram temple. Apparently, his allegations are politically motivated.

Priyanka Gandhi and Randeep Surjewala from the Congress party have also tweeted their comments on the issue. Pawan Pandey, leader of the Samajwadi Party was the first person to disclose the matter and alleged that a scam had taken place in the purchase of land.