New Ram temple in Kolkata? Posters in Salt Lake by BJP leader reveal ambitious plans, after Babri Masjid foundation- The Week

Posters advocating the construction of a Ram temple in Kolkata’s Salt Lake area have surfaced less than a week after former TMC MLA Humayun Kabir laid the foundation stone for a Babri Masjid in the Murshidabad district. The posters promise an Ayodhya-styled Ram temple with a hospital, school, old age home and other welfare facilities nearby for the convenience of people.

Sanjay Paira, a Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Mandal president in the Biddhangar area, has been attributed to the posters displayed throughout Salt Lake, including Karunamoyee, City Centre Island, and Purosabha Island. “God wills it; if God does not will it, will he take any medium to execute it? God cannot come and build a temple overnight. He has chosen me as a conduit,” said Paira. Emphasising that his decision was not prompted by the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Babri Masjid by the former TMC MLA on December 6, he says “There is nothing like that.”

Paira explained, “Babar was a Mughal ruler who ruled and exploited India. He destroyed temples; he looted India. He was a thief; he came to loot India. Build a mosque in his honour; build a church or whatever as per any religion, but why will it be in the name of Babar? People of India are objecting to this. Why should it be in the name of Babar? You belong to that community, build it, but why on that name?”

The Bharatiya Janata Party leader says he will be speaking to religious leaders of various sects. “I have spoken to many religious Hindu gurus about what to do. We will start a Trust which will help in building the hospital, school and other projects,” said Paira.

The posters mention intentions to construct the temple on four bighas of land and request residents to contribute Re 1 each to support the cause. Paira, while clarifying that he is taking this initiative on his individual capacity and that the BJP is not involved, said, “I have put the posters on my own. I have given a call to all Hindu followers to come together to take this cause forward, else, how can such a big project be implemented? I cannot do this big project alone,” Paira also said he will disclose the location on the occasion of Ram Navami, on March 26, as the location has already been identified.