Kamal Nath counters Hindutva plank of BJP, vows revival of Sita temple in Sri Lanka

Congress to revive Sita Mata temple in Sri Lanka, enhance security of Mahakaleshwar & Omkareshwar temples, increase honorarium of Hindu priests, provide insurance cover, develop Shri Ram Van Gaman Path, declare Janapav a holy pilgrimage site, establish Ravidas & Sant Kabir Peeths, launch scheme to help Hindu community for last rites.

Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath on Tuesday said if voted to power in the Assembly elections, the Congress will revive the project to construct Sita Mata temple in Sri Lanka even as he made a string of promises mostly concerning Hindu community. He also said the new government will be committed to the upliftment of faith and culture in the State.

Wishing people on the occasion of Dasara, the former Chief Minister also promised an increase in the honorarium of Hindu priests besides providing them insurance cover in a move to counter the Hindutva plank of the BJP..

Prominent assurances announced by Mr. Nath on his X handle include the development of the Shri Ram Van Gaman Path (the route believed to be taken by Lord Ram during his exile in the forest), declaring Janapav, the birthplace of Lord Parshuram, as a holy pilgrimage site, and establishment of Ravidas Peeth in Morena and Sant Kabir Peeth in Rewa.

The Congress leader said a scheme will be launched to extend financial help to members of the Hindu community for performing last rites.

Notably, the erstwhile Kamal Nath-led government had planned the construction of a Sita Mata Mandir in Sri Lanka but things could not move forward as the government collapsed midway. “The project for the construction of Sita Mata Mandir will be revived as soon as Congress forms a government in the State,” Mr. Nath said.

He also stated that idols of Lord Ram, Nishadraj and Kewatraj will be installed in Chitrakoot and the security of Mahakaleshwar and Omkareshwar temples will be enhanced. He said the ticket system for darshan in these temples will be streamlined and a system will be put in place to ensure that no one misses out on worshipping the deities.

“A training institution will be set up for imparting Vedic teachings,” Mr. Nath said while promising to improve the rules regarding the livelihood of priests.