The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its parent organization, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), are gearing up for an aggressive public awareness campaign to counter the fallout from the controversy over donations to the Ram temple, amid fears that the issue could impact the party’s electoral prospects in Uttar Pradesh and become a major point of opposition ahead of the Assembly elections, people familiar with the developments said.
The BJP, which aims to retain power in Uttar Pradesh for a third straight term, plans to defuse public anger over the controversy and counter opposition allegations that the party and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh were complacent in handling complaints about the alleged theft of donated items, the people said.
The RSS is also working on a similar outreach program that could include a door-to-door campaign to reassure devotees that donations, especially high-value offerings, are not being stolen, according to an RSS employee.
As the Opposition prepares to raise the issue during the monsoon session of Parliament starting on July 20, the BJP and RSS have intensified their efforts to counter what they describe as attempts to raise doubts over the preservation of the donated items.
According to party leaders aware of the developments, the BJP leadership has directed state units, especially in Uttar Pradesh, to highlight how both the Center and the state government acted quickly by issuing orders for strict action against those involved while accusing the opposition of politicizing the issue.
During his recent visit to Uttar Pradesh, BJP president Nitin Nabin was learned to have told party leaders that although there was a “lapse”, there was no need for leaders to turn on each other, people familiar with the discussions said.
“The opposition wants to make this an election issue. They could not stabilize the BJP government on administrative issues, so they want to create a political controversy and unfortunately they have chosen something linked to people’s sentiments and faith,” a senior BJP leader in Delhi said.
The leader said that a special investigation team has already begun investigating the alleged theft and cases have been registered against eight individuals.
“Champat Rai, Anil Mishra and Gopal Rai have resigned and the SIT will provide all the details about the violation, but the opposition wants to create unrest by making false allegations,” the leader said.
Given the political importance of the temple, especially in Uttar Pradesh, and the potential electoral impact of the allegations, the party wants “swift and decisive action” against the accused, said another BJP functionary who was associated with the Ram temple movement.
“Since the 1980s, the Ramjanmabhoomi Andolan (temple building campaign) has become the core of the BJP’s election campaign. This is not an ordinary theft…Ram Mandir is the collective consciousness of our people. It is necessary to remove any shadow of doubt,” the functionary said.
As opposition parties, including the Samajwadi Party and Aam Aadmi Party, intensified their attack over alleged lapses in temple management, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) also strengthened its public defence.
“We are discussing the possibility of sending swayamsevaks to meet people who have made donations beyond a certain threshold. Although we believe every penny should be accounted for, a plan is underway to reassure donors who have receipts to come and physically check the items…” an RSS functionary said.
The official added that the awareness is aimed at addressing the growing concern over the management of the temple.
The BJP officially supported the construction of a Ram temple at the then disputed site in Ayodhya through the 1989 Palampur Resolution, a commitment that was later incorporated into the party’s election manifesto. During the Pran Pratishtha ceremony in 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the temple as a “temple of India’s vision, philosophy and direction… national consciousness in the form of Ram”.
On Sunday, Vishwa Hindu Parishad International president Alok Kumar wrote to the investigating officer handling the case, urging him to question Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav, and Aam Aadmi Party leaders Sanjay Yadav and Arvind Kejriwal over the allegations related to the theft. Stepping up his attack on the opposition, Kumar said that if it is found that false or reckless allegations have been made without supporting evidence, the investigating agency should consider taking action permitted under the law.
These developments come days after RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale urged the Hindu community to show “necessary patience and restraint to thwart the conspiracies of anti-Hindu and anti-national forces who seek to distort Hindu dharma and society by exploiting this unfortunate incident.”
However, BJP leaders in Uttar Pradesh admitted that the controversy has cast a shadow over the government’s claims on governance.
“The performance of the double drive (indicating the BJP’s presence in power at the Center and in the state) has come into question. There was a marginal decline in both turnout and (donation) collection soon after the allegations came to light, so we have been instructed to confront concerns and apprehensions,” a BJP state functionary said.
The party and RSS workers were initially asked to stay away from the controversy and allow SIT to conduct its investigations, but with the opposition intensifying its campaign and several precious metal donors coming forward, it became “inevitable” to launch a counter-awareness campaign, the functionary said.
