The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) is not responsible for the theft of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya and will wait for the investigation into the case to consider taking any action against one of its vice presidents, Champat Rai, who resigned as former general secretary of the temple trust after an SIT probe into the case, Alok Kumar, international president of VHP, said in an interview with HT. Excerpts:
How do you sum up this temple sacking?
What happened is very unfortunate. This has hurt the sentiments of Hindus all over the world. There is no question of making any excuses or trying to defend it. We are all determined that the police and the SIT conduct a very thorough investigation covering all angles and individuals against whomever there are any allegations.
Read also | Six of the eight detained over Ram temple donation violations were employed by the Varanasi security firm
Has VHP’s credibility been damaged?
We are not responsible for that. On the day the Supreme Court ruling came down, I had made it clear that the VHP’s job was done. Building and managing the temple is not our duty.
Champat Rai is the International Vice President of VHP. Therefore, on ethical grounds, some action on the part of VHP would be appropriate.
We did not nominate him for that place [post of general secretary of the trust]. It does not represent VHP. We are not responsible. Whatever happens is unfortunate, but attempts to restrict the VHP, the RSS and the Prime Minister’s Office are being made with an eye on next year’s Assembly elections.
I, as VHP chief, have issued a four-point statement: An FIR must be filed immediately, the case investigated immediately by senior officers, tried daily in a fast-track court, and the guilty punished within four to five months… You want me to sack him (Ray) today without the outcome of the investigation but no one has accused Ray yet. Charges are directed against his driver.
The driver had the keys to the strong room. How does that fit?
The driver has gone to prison. It is checked. The money was recovered from him. The law will catch up with him.
What about Ray’s role?
I admit that he may be guilty of negligence.
Read also | How donations were calculated at Ram Temple in Ayodhya and how it differed from other UP temples
Negligence is also a crime. Is this an attempt to let the big fish escape?
I’m sure that won’t happen. In the part relating to the content of the FIR, the trust has asked for a comprehensive investigation not limited to the eight persons arrested. It includes everyone, including the person I mentioned repeatedly. So no matter how big the fish is, whether it is small or big, none of it will be saved.
Why wasn’t VHP separated from Rai?
VHP has proactively called for an ongoing investigation, so we will be waiting for some time. We will wait until the investigations reach some results and then look into this matter. Let his role be discovered through proper investigation and then we will consider it.
Watch HT’s YouTube channel for the full interview on Sunday.
