Lanka temple: Chouhans same promise,2 years later

In the presence of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa,Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Friday announced his willingness to fund the construction of a temple at a place where Sita is believed to have undertaken Agnipariksha. What he possibly forgot was that he had made the same announcement two years ago.

In fact,Chouhan even performed bhoomi poojan at the place on June 26,2010. Divurumpola (place of oath in Sinhala) features prominently on Ramayana tours in Lanka.)

Before that,Chouhan had visited the old Sita temple at Ashok Vatika,the place where Ravana had kept her captive. On his return,he had announced Rs one crore for the proposed new temple. On Friday,Chouhan repeated the Rs one crore promise.

Sources said the earlier promise could not be kept because the Centre denied nod.

Rajapaksa,who spoke after Chouhan,made no mention of the temple,under-construction or otherwise,or acknowledged the Chief Ministers offer.