Yogi Adityanath Could Head Trust For Ram Temple Construction in Ayodhya, Says Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath (Photo Credits: IANS)

Lucknow, November 11: Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, who heads the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, on Monday said that the religious outfit wanted Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to head the trust that the Supreme Court has asked the Centre to set up for construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya. Yogi Adityanath is the chief priest of the prestigious Gorakhnath temple and heads the Goraksha Peeth, which played a prominent role in the Ram temple movement. Ayodhya Verdict: Full Text of Supreme Court Judgment in Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi Title Dispute.

"Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath could head the trust in his capacity as Mahant of the Gorakhnath Temple and not as CM. The Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas wants Yogi Adityanath to head the Trust," Mahant Nritya Gopal Das was quoted as saying. "All discussions about formation of the trust and its probable members have already taken place. The proposed trust could be on the pattern suggested by the VHP," he added. Highlights of the Supreme Court Judgement in the Ayodhya Case.

Yogi Adityanath's mentor Mahant Avaidyanath was also associated with the Ram temple movement. Mahant Das further suggested names for other trust members. "Other members of the trust could be Champat Rai (VHP vice-president) and Om Prakash Singhal (VHP treasurer)," he said. He chose not to respond when asked whether any Muslim or Iqbal Ansari, a litigant in Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi case, could also be a member of the trust.

The Centre has initiated the process to set up a trust that will take over construction of a Ram temple at the disputed land in Ayodhya. According to a report, bureaucrats attached to the MHA are studying the apex court's 1045-page judgment awarding the disputed land in Ayodhya to Hindus.

The Supreme Court on November 9 directed the Centre to form within three months a trust which will build a Ram temple at the disputed site. Ruling that there is clear evidence that the Hindus believed Ram was born at the disputed site, the five-judge bench said the Sunni Waqf Board, which was a party to the seven-decade-old title suit, should be given an alternate five-acre land at some other suitable place for construction of a mosque in Ayodhya.