Jaipur, July 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) Former Rajasthan Chief Minister and veteran Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday recalled the previous Congress government's role in facilitating the legal supply of Bansi Paharpur sandstone for the Ram Mandir in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya and said that he had personally urged the temple authorities to use only legally mined stone.
Referring to the ongoing controversy over alleged financial irregularities in temple donations, Gehlot called for accountability, saying that any wrongdoing in a project associated with the faith of millions must be thoroughly investigated.
During a press conference in New Delhi, the veteran Congress leader recalled the Congress government's role in facilitating the legal supply of Bansi Paharpur sandstone for the temple and raised questions on accountability in wake of the temple donation controversy.
Amid alleged financial irregularities involving donations at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Gehlot addressed a press conference at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in New Delhi, in which he spoke about Rajasthan's contribution to the temple's construction and the importance of transparency in matters of public faith.
He noted that sandstone from Bansi Paharpur in Rajasthan's Bharatpur district played a significant role in the construction of the Ram Mandir.
He said the then-Congress government worked to resolve legal and administrative hurdles to ensure that stone for the project was supplied through lawful mining.
Recalling the early phase of the Ram temple's construction, Gehlot said illegal mining was taking place in the Bansi Paharpur region while stone from the area was being sourced for the Ram Mandir.
According to Gehlot, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust General Secretary Champat Rai and his aide Dinesh met him in Jaipur.
During the meeting, the former Chief Minister said that he advised them that only legally mined and certified stone should be used for the Ram temple.
"I told them that such a sacred and historic project should not use illegally mined stone. Only legally sourced material should be used so that the sanctity of the temple remains unquestioned," Gehlot added.
He also described the administrative process behind making legal mining possible in the region.
He said the principal mining zone at Bansi Paharpur fell under forest and wildlife jurisdiction, making extraction difficult under existing regulations.
According to the former Chief Minister, the matter eventually reached the Prime Minister's Office.
Gehlot claimed that the previous Congress-led Rajasthan government sent a strong recommendation to the Centre for reclassification of the land, enabling legal mining.
He added that the previous Rajasthan government expedited approvals that would otherwise have taken years, ensuring a lawful supply of sandstone for the temple.
"The Temple Trust had appreciated our (Congress-led Rajasthan government's) efforts at that time," he said.
Referring to the ongoing controversy surrounding alleged irregularities in temple donations, Gehlot said any financial misconduct associated with a project of such religious significance would amount to a betrayal of public trust.
He alleged that people across the country had contributed to the temple with devotion and that any misuse of those contributions would deeply hurt public sentiment.
"If allegations of embezzlement are true, they raise serious questions about accountability and governance. The faith of millions must be protected," Gehlot said.
Meanwhile, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has not yet issued a detailed public response to the allegations mentioned by Gehlot.
Source: IANS
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