UP CM Yogi Adityanath exempts Ayodhya temples, other religious shrines of civic body taxes
Zee News
The chief minister asked the civic body to take only financial cooperation from religious shrines in the form of token monetary contributions.
New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday (April 1, 2022) visited the temple town of Ayodhya and asked the city's municipal corporation not to impose commercial taxes on temples and other religious shrines. On his first visit to Ayodhya after assuming charge of the state for the second term, Adityanath also reviewed the preparation for the upcoming Ram Navami Mela in the temple town.
Around 10 lakhs devotees are expected to participate in the fair that would be held after two years due to the Covid pandemic. At Ayodhya, Adityanath also offered prayers at the Hanumangarhi temple and paid a visit to the construction site of the Lord Ram temple.
The chief minister also visited the Balrampur district later and offered prayers in three temples there. He will have a night halt at the Devi Patan temple there and leave for Siddharthnagar on Saturday. A report from Gorakhpur, meanwhile, said CM Adityanath will observe a nine-day fast during "Chaitra Navratri" beginning Saturday and will perform special puja there for peace, prosperity, health, and happiness in the state and nation.
In the temple town, Adityanath asked the Ayodhya Municipal Corporation not to take commercial tax from temples and other religious shrines. The municipal corporation must not charge house tax, water tax, sewer tax from monasteries, temples, 'dharamshalas', and charitable organizations at commercial rates as all these institutions do charity work and public service, the CM said. The chief minister asked the civic body to take only financial cooperation from religious shrines in the form of token monetary contributions.
The CM also directed the Ayodhya Municipal Corporation to make a proposal regarding this and get it approved by the government. After the foundation-laying of the Ram temple in August 2020, this will be the first Ram Navami Mela after the Covid pandemic and the CM asked officials to organize this fair with grandeur and make special efforts for bringing Ayodhya on the world map.
