Bollywood star Akshay Kumar on Sunday sent out a call to fans to contribute for the Lord Ram temple being built in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya following the landmark Supreme Court verdict in the decades-long dispute over the site.
"It is a matter of great pleasure that the construction of our grand temple of Shri Ram has begun in Ayodhya... Now it is our turn to contribute. I have started, hope you will join too. Jai Siyaram," Mr Kumar tweeted in Hindi along with a video.
The Supreme Court of India in November 2019 had brought the curtains down on the long-standing religious dispute over the site in Ayodhya, saying it belonged to Lord Ram.
The five-judge constitution bench ruled that a "prominent site" in the same holy town will be allotted for a new mosque, in place of the one unlawfully razed down by Hindu activists in 1992, triggering communal violence across India that left thousands dead.
It ordered the central government to set up a trust to manage and oversee the construction of the temple.
In August 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the construction of the temple at the site.
This month, the temple trust launched a nationwide donation drive with an estimate that it will cost Rs 1,100 crore to build it. Leaders of various political and quasi-political outfits joined the bandwagon, flagging off regional drives that will continue till February 27.
Among prominent donors, President Ram Nath Kovind pledged Rs 5 lakh and one hundred this week.
Volunteers of various organisations will seek Rs 10, Rs 100, or Rs 1,000 - the three types of coupons available against contribution - from Hindu households towards the construction. The trust has decided against using any government fund, money from abroad, or corporate donations.
Ayodhya Ram Temple To Not Use Chinese Decorative Items During Diwali: Trust Ayodhya's Ram Temple To Be Lit Up With 28 Lakh Diyas For Diwali "I Sat Before The Deity...": Chief Justice On Ayodhya Dispute Kamala Harris vs Donald Trump: Who Is Winning The US Election Right Now? Equatorial Guinea Civil Servant's Over 400 Sex Tapes Spark Massive Row Live Updates: Trump Says He May Not Challenge Election As Long As "It's Fair" Fake Bomb Threats Linked To Russia Briefly Close Georgia Polling Locations FBI Warns Of Bomb Threats From Russia At US Voting Sites Kamala Harris vs Donald Trump: Who Is Winning The US Election Right Now? Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.