Nod not required for govt to announce Ram temple trust: EC

In a response to the announcement made earlier in the day, the Election Commission on Wednesday (February 5) said its approval was “not required” for the government to announce the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra trust.

Responding to questions on whether the government required a clearance from the poll panel to announce the trust as the model code was in place in Delhi, a EC spokesperson said the nod was “not required”.

WATCH: PM Modi speaking in Lok Sabha on Ram temple https://t.co/g1wnBrOXt2

— ANI (@ANI) February 5, 2020

Just three days ahead of the Delhi assembly polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Wednesday, announced the formation of a trust that would oversee the construction of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya. Delhi is scheduled to go for polls on Saturday.

Also read: Trust to be set up for construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya: PM

“My government has decided to set up a trust called Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Skshetra, which will take decisions independently on the construction of a Ram temple and related issues,” PM Modi said in the Lok Sabha. Amid chants of “Jai Shri Ram”, Modi also said, “Let us all support construction of grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya.”

Also read: 15 trustees in Ram Temple trust; one to be Dalit, says HM Amit Shah

The Prime Minister also said that the trust has been named Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Shetra. He further said that the Uttar Pradesh government has agreed to give five acres of land to the Sunni Wakf Board as directed by the Supreme Court. It has also been decided to transfer 67.703 acre land to the trust, he added.

(With inputs from agencies)