Nitish Kumar announces construction of a grand Sita temple, sanctions Rs 48 crore

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has announced that his government will construct a grand Sita temple in Sitamarhi in Bihar. The CM made the announcement at the ‘Sitamarhi Mahotsav’ at Punaura Dham. Kumar said that the government has plans to restore the old Sita temple at Punaura Dham and turn it into a grand temple.

Whatever work has begun for the restoration and beautification of Punaura Dham will be finished within two years, Nitish Kumar announced.

The state government has sanctioned Rs 48.50 crore and earmarked 20 acres of land for a grand Janaki temple in Punaura Dham in Sitamarhi.

Along with the Janaki temple and Punaura Dham, the government will also develop Haleshwar Sthan and Panth Pakar in Sitamarhi as religious tourist places. We are committed to do this, announced the CM.

The restoration and construction of Janaki temple in Sitamarhi is part of Narendra Modi government’s ambitious programme of building a ‘Ramayan circuit’. Bihar government and Union tourism ministry have joined hands for the project. The idea is to develop Punaura Dham as a religious tourist destination.

After the restoration and building of grand Sita temple is complete, Sitamarhi will be accorded the status of world tourist destination.

Soon after becoming CM, Nitish Kumar had announced restoration of the Janaki temple.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the erstwhille ally of Nitish Kumar, said that they were not opposed to the construction of the temple but were opposed to political parties using Ram and Sita for vote-bank politics.

We are not against the building of a Sita temple but we are against BJP who uses Ram and Sita for votes. We are opposed to the idea of political parties inciting communal tension in the society in the name of Ram, said Mrityunjay Tiwary, RJD spokesperson.

Courtesy: India Today