Kishor demands white paper on Ram temple

Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor on Friday urged the Narendra Modi Government at the Centre to bring out a ‘white paper’ on alleged financial irregularities in Ayodhya’s Ram Temple and “fix accountability”.

Speaking to reporters in the central Bihar town of Gayaji, Kishor also waded into the controversy over GDP figures, alleging that hardships suffered by the people belied the claims of a high growth rate by the Government.

The I-PAC founder, who had started off as a poll strategist handling Modi’s election campaign in 2014, was asked about the appointment of Air Marshal (Retd) Jeetendra Mishra as the CEO of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

The Indian Air Force veteran’s appointment as the first CEO of the trust comes in the wake of allegations of massive corruption in the management of the temple, the construction of which, after decades-long legal battle, is touted by the Modi Government as one of its major achievements.

“What will merely appointing a CEO achieve if the people who were previously involved in managing the affairs are let off the hook? Allegations of corruption have hurt the religious sentiments of the people. The Government must bring out a white paper on the financial irregularities that have taken place,” Kishor said.

The Bankipur MLA was also asked about the raging debate that has been triggered by averments of former Union finance secretary Shravan Kumar Garg on GDP figures. “The questions on projected GDP figures have been raised by a specialist. And this is not the first time that the Government’s claims of GDP growth rate have been disputed,” he said.

“The fact remains — a majority of the country’s population is facing extreme hardships in their day-to-day lives. Abject poverty and joblessness fly in the face of the Government’s claims that we are one of the fastest-growing economies and the third-largest in the world. Unless the living standards of the people improve, questions will be raised on the Government’s claims,” the opposition legislator said. Kishor, who has firmly ruled out the possibility of an alliance with mainstream parties like the Congress, also asserted that “the Jan Suraaj Party is committed to bringing a fundamental change in the way politics is done in Bihar”.

“But, we will be able to fulfil our commitment only if there is a change in the mindset of the people. We come across many who agree, in principle, with the issues raised by Jan Suraaj Party, but end up voting on religious and caste lines, as if out of habit,” the 49-year-old politician lamented.

Nonetheless, Kishor said he saw “an improvement in the education sector” as the key to “Bihar’s journey towards breaking the shackles of chronic backwardness and emergence as one of the top-ranking states in the country”.

“Sadly, over the years, education seems to have ceased to be a priority for the society in Bihar. We are trying to convince parents to change their mindset. We are also trying to mobilise teachers, who shall have a moral right to demand better working conditions if the impression gains ground that they are delivering something of real value,” he added.