KOLKATA: Reports that the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) on Saturday urged its followers and devotees to vote for Trinamool Congress candidates in the 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal have been dismissed as rumours by the organisation.
A two-and-half minute video that had gone viral seemed to suggest that the organisation had extended its support to West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee because she lifted land ceiling restrictions to facilitate the construction of the ‘Maha Mandir’, touted as the world’s largest temple and to be built over 200 acres, as well as an international city, to be built over 750 acres.
According to the West Bengal Land Reforms Act, 1955, the limit of individual ownership of agricultural land for non-commercial purposes is 17.5 acres for irrigated areas and 24.5 acres for rain-fed areas. The limit on ownership of individual land in urban areas is 7.5 cottahs (1/10 acre).
However, when Express contacted ISKCON, the religious organisation dissociated themselves from the video. "We have not circulated any video. Our followers can vote for any political party they wish to," director of communications Yudhisthir Govinda Das said.