Bihar / Karnataka: A Muslim family in Bihar has donated land worth Rs 2.5 crore for the construction of the world’s largest Hindu temple –Virat Ramayan Mandir— in the Kaithwalia area of East Champaran district in the state.
Acharya Kishore Kunal, chief of the Patna-based Mahavir Mandir Trust, that has undertaken the project, said that Ishtiyaq Ahmad Khan, who has donated the land, is a businessman from East Champaran based in Guwahati.
“He recently completed all formalities pertaining to the donation of land belonging to his family for the construction of the temple at the registrar office of the Kesharia sub-division (East Champaran),” Kunal, a former Indian Police Service officer, said.
The Acharya said that this donation by Khan and his family is a great example of social harmony and brotherhood between two communities. Without the help of Muslims, it would have been difficult to realise this dream project, he added.
The Mahavir Mandir Trust has so far obtained 125 acres of land for the construction of this temple. The trust will soon obtain another 25 acres of land too in the area.
The total construction cost is estimated to be around ₹ 500 crore. The trust will soon take advice from the experts engaged in the construction of the new parliament building in New Delhi.
Meanwhile, the Shivamogga festival committee in Karnataka (India) has decided not to give tenders to Muslim shopkeepers during the five-day Kote Marikamba Jatra festival after protests by BJP and others.
The committee accepted the demands made by leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Bajrang Dal, and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). The group had demanded that shopkeepers belonging to the Hindu community be allowed to open stalls during the festival.
Kote Marikamba Jatre, held once in two years, attracts lakhs of people from neighbouring cities and districts, irrespective of caste and religion. The last time it was held was in February 2020.
BJP leaders and others were reportedly adamant that no Muslim be allowed to do business during the festival.
