Kanpur: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) vice president and Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai said on Sunday that Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar and West Bengal chief minister Mamta Banerjee will also be approached for funds for the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
“We will visit each and everyone’s house, including NCP chief Sharad Pawar and West Bengal chief minister Mamta Banerjee, to collect funds for the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya,” said Rai.
“Our volunteers would approach leaders of almost all parties and people from all faiths for their participation in the construction of a grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya,” he added.
Rai also appealed to non-resident Indians (NRIs) to keep patience and assured that their monetary contribution will also be included for the construction of Ram Temple.
“We have been receiving phone calls from NRIs eager for making monetary contribution for the construction of Ram Temple. We want to assure them that their contribution will also be included, as right now we are in the process of overcoming all legal hurdles in accepting their monetary contribution for the temple construction. We will not indulge in any kind of activities which violate law. Till then, we request them to keep patience and keep increasing their contribution for construction of grand Ram Temple,” said Rai.
He further said that three to four lakh volunteers and workers have been roped in under the dedicated campaign for fund collection.
“We are targeting to contact more than 55 to 60 crore people in the country and collect their contribution for the task,” Rai added.
He also revealed that some people came with contribution of silver, but we want to tell all people that right now we are in need of money. “When we will feel there is a requirement of silver, we will definitely launch a campaign,” he said.
Each day’s collection would be deposited in bank accounts, and for this, arrangements have been made in State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank and Bank of Baroda, he added.
Briefing media at a restaurant in Civil Lines, Rai also revealed the details about the construction date and duration of the temple, “The temple construction will start from Makar Sankranti and it will be built in 36 to 39 months,” he said. Rai was in the city to intensify campaign to collect funds for construction of Ram Temple.