All India Imams Association (AIAA) president Maulana Sajid Rashidi on Sunday claimed that questions have long been raised about the finances and leadership of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in connection with the Ram temple movement, amid the ongoing probe into alleged misappropriation of donations.
Rashidi claimed that the VHP “has always been under suspicion” since the Ram Mandir movement. Referring to the funds collected during the Rath Yatra, he questioned the financial transparency of the organisation, according to the news agency that I.
“Vishva Hindu Parishad is a name that has always been in doubt ever since the Ram Mandir movement happened until now. At that time, Rs 1,400 crore was collected during the Rath Yatra, and they have not given an account for that yet,” he said.
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Al-Rashidi’s allegations against VHP
Linking the existing allegations to the VHP, Rashidi alleged that Ram Temple Trust general secretary Champat Rai was being deliberately kept away.
“Now, with Champat Rai being clearly seen in the Ram Mandir theft, such activities will happen somewhere to give a clear message to the Vishva Hindu Parishad, saying it is okay, and Champat Rai will also be told that no, he is absolutely pure, absolutely clean, and has not done anything,” the AIAA president said.
Al-Rashidi further claimed that Ray was deliberately distancing himself from VHP to avoid renewed scrutiny.
“Champ Rai deliberately wants to keep himself away from Vishva Hindu Parishad at the moment because as soon as the name of Vishva Hindu Parishad is mentioned, many things come to the eyes of people in the country and somewhere the 1,400-crore issue and this new issue can come together to become controversial. Champ Rai is an intelligent man, that’s why he deliberately kept himself a little separate,” he added.
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SIT visited Ram temple
On July 3, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged misappropriation of donations at Ram Temple visited the temple premises to continue its investigation.
The Uttar Pradesh government on July 1 granted the Special Investigation Team a 15-day extension to complete its investigation, allowing it to expand the scope of the investigation and conduct a comprehensive investigation into all aspects of the case.
The FIR was registered on June 25 after the SIT submitted its initial report on June 23, following which eight accused were arrested.
Later, Champat Rai and former trustee Anil Mishra resigned and took moral responsibility for the alleged misappropriation of donations at the Ayodhya Ram Temple, hours after police arrested all eight people named in the FIR.
