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.
Also known as "hugging mother", 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 had 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.
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