Sign in

Maharashtra: Congress objects to Ram Mandir donation drive

The Congress party on Thursday raised objections to an ongoing campaign to collect donations for the construction of the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya

Updated on: Mar 5, 2021, 00:16:46 IST
By , Mumbai
Share
Share via
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
Copy link
  • copy link

The Congress party on Thursday raised objections to an ongoing campaign to collect donations for the construction of the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya. State Congress chief and legislator Nana Patole said in the state Assembly that when he had refused to give a donation, he had been threatened by the person collecting the amount.

Nana Patole, Maharashtra Congress chief. (HT PHOTO)
Nana Patole, Maharashtra Congress chief. (HT PHOTO)

On Thursday, Patole told the Assembly, “A person named Manohar Kulkarni approached me and sought donations for construction of the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya. When I refused, he threatened me. Who has given them the contract to collect donation and charity in the name of Lord Rama? Did Lord Rama give them a contract?”

“We are ready for a debate in the state Assembly on the issue, if they wish to hold it. Those involved in extortion will never understand the importance of [making an] offering,” said leader of Opposition and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis in response.

Following this, proceedings in the Assembly had to be adjourned for 10 minutes following an uproar by BJP legislators in response to Patole’s comments. Chants of “Jai Shri Ram” were also raised.

  • Faisal Malik
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Faisal Malik

    Faisal Malik is a senior journalist with over two and a half decades of experience covering Maharashtra’s politics, governance and public policy with a deep understanding of the state’s political landscape. He is a Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times and has been associated with its Mumbai edition for more than a decade. Based in Mumbai, Faisal currently covers three major political parties in Maharashtra — Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and NCP (Sharad Pawar). Over the years, he has extensively reported on major political developments, combining investigative insights with in-depth field reporting. His coverage has spanned a wide range of issues, from drought, farmer suicides, major development projects and grassroots challenges to major electoral battles, including three Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assembly elections — 2014, 2019 and 2024. Before joining Hindustan Times, he worked with ‘The Asian Age’ and ‘Dainik Bhaskar’. An avid tea enthusiast, he enjoys reading history, Urdu literature and classical poetry. When away from the newsroom, he writes Urdu poetry inspired by human emotions, life's experiences, meaningful reflections and relationships. An amateur photographer, Faisal is passionate about capturing moments that often go unnoticed by the naked eye.Read More