Not warming up to BJP, says Mata Amritanandamayi

September 12, 2015
Onmanorama Staff

Kollam: Spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi on Friday said she was not warming up to BJP or any other political party and her wish is only to establish 'dharma'.

Amritanandamayi, popularly addressed as 'Amma' by her followers, was talking to reporters after handing over a cheque of Rs 100 crore to Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for the construction of toilets under the Namami Gange and Swachh Bharat programmes.

Asked whether the Amritanandamayi mutt was moving close to BJP-led NDA government, she said, party or government is irrelevant to her.

"As far as I am concerned, it is not politics or government that concerns me. What is important to me is to establish dharma irrespective of governments," she said.

However, she wanted everybody to work together to realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Swachh Bharat dream.

Amritanandamayi said she wanted all states, through which the river Ganga flows, to ensure that the effluents from the factories were not discharged into the river before being treated and to create awareness among local people on the necessity of using toilets.

She said the mutt donated Rs 100 crore for the ambitious programmes based on her meeting with Modi in March this year.

"This project will provide much-needed amenities to those who truely need them. Along with toilet construction, education is also required. The villagers need to be taught that open defecation leads to water and soil pollution," she said.

The mutt would also donate another Rs 100-crore for the construction of toilets across Kerala, she added.

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