Secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, Champat Rai on Sunday called allegations of fraud in buying land for the Ram Mandir as misleading and politically motivated, adding that all temple land bought so far was at below open market price.
“Allegations (of fraud) are misleading and motivated by political hatred. All lands that Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra has purchased so far have been bought at a price much less than the open market price,” a statement issued by the Trust said.
Rai said that after the Supreme Court`s decision on Shri Ram Janmabhoomi in November 2019, people from across the country started coming to Ayodhya to buy land and prices increased. The plot in the question, he said, is a “very prominent place near the railway station”.
Rai added that buying and selling of the land are based on mutual dialogue between the parties. “After taking consent, the consent form is signed. All types of court fees and stamp papers are purchased online. The purchase of land is done based on the consent letter. Accordingly, the entire amount is transferred online to the seller’s account,” he said.
Two opposition parties of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday accused the Ram Mandir Trust set up by the centre last year of pulling off an illicit land deal in Ayodhya.
The Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) claim the transaction took place in March this year. It involved two real estate dealers allegedly purchasing a property from an individual for Rs 2 crore and selling it — minutes later — to the Trust for Rs 18.5 crore, according to the allegation. The temple body has brushed the charge aside as frivolous.
The allegations are significant as the Ram temple in Ayodhya is an emotive issue in Uttar Pradesh, where elections are due next year.
