Ram Mandir land 'scam': Trust denies allegations, BJP distances itself from controversy

Lucknow: A day after the opposition leaders from Aam Adami Party (AAP) and Samajwadi Party accused fraud in the land deal for Ram Mandir at Ayodhya, the Shri Ram Janam Bhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has come out with clarification. The trust formed for the construction and management of Ram Mandir by the union government in February last year, said that there is no irregularity in the land deal. The trust general secretary Champat Rai in a statement issued on Monday said that land in question was purchased from private parties and all transactions in this regard have been made online. He said that the persons from whom the land was purchased had entered into a legal agreement with the previous owners of the property few years back. The sellers got this land registered in their name on March 18 this year and afterward sold it to the trust.

Rai said that soon after the verdict on Ram Janambhoomi came on November 9, 2019, a large number of people from across the country evinced interest in purchasing land at Ayodhya. Besides the state government of Uttar Pradesh too has started purchasing bulk land in Ayodhya for carrying out development works. Because of all this, the land rates escalated in Ayodhya. The land in question is situated near railway station and is considered prominent place.

Rai said that the trust has so far purchased lands for the temple at a rate, which is less than the market value. He said that those with vested interest have been levelling allegations. According to him, few politicians with certain motives have been doing this to mislead the society.

Meanwhile looking at the sensitivity of the matter, the Bhartiya Janta Party has kept a distance from the entire issue. According to a party leader, the trust is competent enough to counter all the allegations and there is no need to intervene. However, the activists of women wing of congress thronged at chief minister residence in Lucknow on Monday demanding action in the alleged land deal at Ayodhya. Police resorted to lathicharge to disperse the women congress activists and arrested over a dozen of them.