BJP leader and party spokesperson Dr Rajneesh Singh on Tuesday sought an impartial central probe into the alleged misappropriation of funds received at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple.
In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Singh demanded that the matter be investigated by an independent central agency – the Central Bureau of Investigation, the Enforcement Directorate, or any other competent authority.
He urged that the findings be made public to strengthen the faith of devotees in the integrity of the temple.
Read also | Those who try to disrupt celebrations in Uttar Pradesh will lose their present and future: Yogi Adityanath
“Ram Temple is the center of faith, devotion and belief for millions of Hindus. Devotees from all over the country and abroad make donations according to their devotion,” Singh said.
He said if the allegations of irregularities were proven true, it would not only amount to an economic crime but would also deeply hurt the religious sentiments of millions of Ram’s devotees.
He added: “Strict measures must be taken against those found guilty.”
On Sunday, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged that millions of rupees in donations made at the Ram temple were missing and called for judicial intervention.
“The government’s silence is suspicious,” Yadav said.
Amid the controversy, Ram Temple Building Construction Committee Chairman Nripendra Mishra arrived in Ayodhya on Tuesday and held a closed-door meeting for nearly four hours inside the Ram temple complex.
According to sources, the meeting was attended by Ram Temple Trust General Secretary Champat Rai and other members of the Trust.
Mishra’s surprise visit assumes significance as he was originally scheduled to attend a review meeting in Ayodhya on June 13. As the controversy escalated, his program was reportedly introduced, arriving without prior public announcement.
Meanwhile, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Foundation and its associated individuals have maintained a distance from the media.
Trust members appear to be avoiding interaction with journalists amid growing public interest in the allegations.
The fund has not issued any official statement yet.
Responding to Akhilesh Yadav’s allegations, the Trust’s Secretary General, Champat Rai, said that internal audits are ongoing and no evidence has emerged to support the allegations so far.
Representatives of the Trust and State Bank of India participated in the audit, which is conducted periodically and takes several days, Rai said.
Yadav had described the fund’s clarifications as vague and asked all its members to come together to explain the matter. He also suggested checking CCTV footage to verify the donation amount.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has placed around forty donation boxes at several places in front of the Ram temple and other temples, and along the entire darshan route.
Money is collected from these funds daily.
The Fund has allowed SBI to count the money. The SBI, in turn, hired a private agency to conduct the counting.
