The Ram temple donation controversy has taken a fresh turn after the trust accepted the resignations of general secretary Champat Rai and member Anil Mishra at a meeting held on Monday, even as a preliminary SIT report confirmed irregularities in the collection of donations. Despite stepping down from the trust, Champat Rai will continue to hold his position within the VHP for now.
What the SIT report found
On June 25, the Uttar Pradesh government sent a copy of the SIT's preliminary investigation report to the Ram temple trust, informing it of the findings of the probe. That same report was attached to the statement released after the trust's meeting on Monday, at which the trust, amid the ongoing controversy, accepted the resignations of general secretary Champat Rai and member Anil Mishra. The report has emerged in the middle of a long running dispute over how donations, or chadhava, offered at the Ram temple are being managed.
Sanjay Singh presents fresh papers, seeks more time
Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh also spoke on the Ram temple donation scam. He said he had earlier handed over 13 documents to the SIT. Singh said that at a press conference he placed several additional documents related to land deals in the public domain and asked the investigating agency for more time. He said that if granted time, he would submit all of these papers to the SIT as well. Singh further said that the management of the well known Ram temple should be handed over to religious leaders. He questioned why Narendra Modi wants his own people placed there. His suggestion is that the entire management of the temple be given to religious leaders who follow Sanatan Dharma and Sanatan traditions and who have devoted their entire lives to this work.
VHP stance: no decision yet on Champat Rai
The VHP has clarified that although Champat Rai has resigned from the Ram temple trust, he will remain in his current position within the organisation. According to the VHP, both the police and the SIT are investigating the allegations against Champat Rai. Champat Rai himself has said that he has answers to the allegations levelled against him. The VHP has also made clear that until the investigation is complete, no decision or consideration will be made regarding Champat Rai's responsibilities within the organisation.
