NEW DELHI: The decision of the Shankaracharyas to float a trust for the construction of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya evoked sharp reaction among the minorities and Left parties which demanded that the Government make it clear that it was not associated with the move.
In a statement, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) said that the trust “at the disputed site has come about as a result of the sponsorship of the Narasimha Rao Government.”
The CPIM warmed the Government “to cease dabbling in religious matters in such a manner which would only compromise the State’s secular character.”
It said that the Trust intended to take over the job of construction of the temple from the hands of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) controlled body. The Shankaracharyas have repeatedly made it clear that their trust aimed at having the sanctum sanctorum at the disputed site where the idols were Kept, the statement said.
The Shankaracharyas, it pointed out, also want the entire land acquired by the Government to be handed over to them. This makes it clear that the “aim of the present trust is similar to that of the VHP, the only difference being the trustees and the management,” the statement said.
The CPI (M) said that the motives of the Rao Government, “to patronize such a trust are dubious and can prove extremely harmful.”
The only conclusion, the CPI(M) said, “that can be drawn is that the Rao Government is bent upon appropriating the temple platform from the VHP.”
Article extracted from this publication >> October 21, 1994
