2024-07-15 06:58:23
New Delhi/Kolkata: The front-runner in the US presidential race was attacked by a gunman at an election rally in Pennsylvania. He was shot allegedly in an assassination attempt. During the attack, the bullet passed near Trump’s ear. Trump narrowly escaped this attack. Regarding Trump’s survival in this attack, ISKCON on Sunday recalled Donald Trump’s association with the first Rath Yatra in New York almost half a century ago. Radharaman Das, vice-president of ISKCON Kolkata, described Trump’s narrow escape as divine intervention.
The train yard was made available for free
Das said that in July 1976, Donald Trump had helped the devotees of ISKCON who were looking for a bigger place to build the chariot. He had made his train yard available for free. He said that today it was Lord Jagannath’s turn to repay this favor during the Rath Yatra festival. The first Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath on New York’s Fifth Avenue in 1976 was made possible with the help of Trump, an emerging real estate mogul at that time.
A dark chapter in American history… Indian-origin Americans disappointed by the attack on Trump, know what they are saying?
Space was needed to build the chariot
Das said that finding a huge empty space near 5th Avenue in New York where the chariots could be built was never easy. ISKCON devotees, who were planning to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the organisation with a grand Rath Yatra in New York, knocked on the doors of every possible person, but all in vain. A few days later, ISKCON devotees came to know that Donald Trump had bought the old railway yard.
Only God prevented that from happening… Trump gave a message to the American people after the attack, appealing for unity
… then no one expected a yes
At that time, devotees went to his office with a big basket of mahaprasad and a presentation package. His secretary took it but warned that he never agrees to such things. You can ask but he is going to say ‘no’.” Three days later, Trump’s secretary called the devotees and said: I don’t know what happened but he read your letter, took a bit of the food you left and immediately said, ‘Sure, why not?’