image Source, ANI
The matter of alleged irregularities in the church of Ram temple in Ayodhya has been in the news for the last few days.
On June 7, Samajwadi Party leaders and former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav were accused of embezzling crores of rupees in the name of Ram Temple.
He wrote on X, “It is a very inspiring news for the worshipers of Lord Ram all over the world that the amount worth crores of offerings to ‘Ram Mandir’ has gone missing.”
Ayodhya District Magistrate Shashank Tripathi told BBC Hindi, “Necessary steps are being taken in relation to the allegations made regarding the offerings made at the Ram temple. The investigation of the matter is ongoing. After the completion of the investigation, the relevant facts and documents will be made public.”
In view of the allegations and counter-allegations regarding this matter, the Uttar Pradesh government has formed three priest monasteries to investigate the donation dispute in Ram Temple. The mythological characters in Isa Masih include Vishwas Pant, Christian Kiran S and Neel Ratan, special secretary of the finance department. This special investigation team (community) reached Ayodhya on Monday.
Another businessman has demanded an investigation by a former Supreme Court judge on the no-confidence motion.
After completion of the investigation, the team will sell its report to the Uttar Pradesh government.
What is the whole matter?
image Source, ANI
From time to time, questions are being asked at the local level regarding the offerings or expertise in making moonshine in the Ram temple.
Pawan Pandey, a minister in the Samajwadi Party government and former MLA from Ayodhya, told BBC Hindi, “This loot is not a new thing. This trust (Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra) has been going on ever since it was formed.”
He said, “First the scam of trust land came to light and later Mahipal Singh, who used to get the amount of offerings counted, had filed a petition regarding theft of money but no action was taken. We are Ayodhya residents, we are seeing what was happening to those who were doing jobs worth ten to fifteen thousand rupees in the temple.”
But this time the matter became a topic of political debate when former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav posted it on his X account.
He wrote on Twitter, “This is a very message news for the worshipers of Lord Ram all over the world that the amount of crores of rupees paid for ‘Ram Mandir’ has gone missing. This temple is in a very shameful condition. No one wants to come forward for cleaning. There is a demand from the court to take the idol automatically because it has been established by the faith of Lord Ram of the entire Sanatani community at the global level. There are plans of the government.”
image Source, Gaurav Gulmohar
Former Samajwadi Party minister Akhilesh Yadav wrote in a post, “All the members of the trust should be brought together and the symbol should be used to match the figures. As soon as all the trusts sit together, it will be proved true because they do not have anyone in common. When no one person is at the center of collaboration of this manipulation, then what is the importance of any one.”
In the last nine days, Akhilesh Yadav has made eight consecutive posts on his XXX handle regarding alleged irregularities in donations to Ram Temple.
Local BJP leader Piyush Singh has also written a letter to the Prime Minister demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation into the donation funds for the construction of Ram Temple.
On the other hand, Vinay Katiyar, a prominent face of the Ram Mandir movement and founder of Bajrang Dal, has also termed the alleged irregularities in the amount of donation due to superstition as a serious matter.
Vinay Katiyar said, “This is a serious welfare matter. People have made sacrifices on this. People like us and Kalyan Singh have been sent to jail. Singh had resigned. At this time, everyone who is a friend is a thief. Vinay Katiyar will take the rest of the leave. Within two days, he will either run away or go inside the jail.”
belief on disbelief
image Source, Deepak Gupta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images
According to official information, the founder of ‘Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir Trust’, Uttar Pradesh Government, has formed the Math.
A team of three members will investigate the colleagues going to the plant with donation boxes in the pilgrimage area and submit their report to the government.
On the other hand, minority opposition Prasad of Samajwadi Party of Ayodhya has held a press conference and demanded withdrawal of the investigation of this case from the High Court.
Avishwas Prasad said, “This is the biggest loot of the nation. This is the loot of Lord Shri Ram’s temple. It should be investigated at the basic level. The Supreme Court should cooperate with a team and investigate the team. First of all, all the members of the trust should be included. The investigation should not be affected in any way. This is a loss of religion.”
Former SP government minister and leader Pawan Pandey told BBC, “Earlier, Prosecutor Mahipal had complained about payment of donation money from Champat Rai to Anil Mishra, but no action was taken. This means that the loot was going on continuously.”
“In about two years, many plots and lands were acquired by those working inside the temple. What business did you do in the last two years that so much happened? She is getting the government interrogated, what will God do? May Lord Shri Ram himself protect himself.”
What did the former accounts in-charge tell?
image Source, Gaurav Gulmohar
Mahipal Singh, trustee of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, is in charge of accounts from January 2021 to May 2022. The amount of offerings in Ram temple was counted under his supervision.
He has alleged irregularities in the donation of Ram temple.
According to Mahipal Singh, when he complained about the alleged irregularities to Rakam in the weekly meeting of the office, another account in-charge was appointed in his place, after which he himself distanced himself from this arrangement.
When BBC Hindi tried to talk to Mahipal Singh, he refused to tell the truth fearing his life.
He told BBC Hindi, “I have got life-threatening stress. I am under immense pressure and I am. I am not in a position to say anything. Whatever I have said in public till now, you take it at my word.”
Mahipal Singh said in his interview on a YouTube channel, “Our weekly meeting was held in the office by Gopal Bhai Saheb. Gopal Bhai Saheb is on the voice position after Champat Rai. When I told Gopal Bhai Saheb about the irregularities, the next day Anil Mishra (trust member) replaced me with someone else.”
Former accounts in-charge Mahipal Singh said that in a similar interview, apart from the amount, irregularities in payment were also mentioned.
What does the Trust say?
image Source, Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images
Champat Rai, trustee of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra said release a video Any irregularities in the offerings are rejected.
He said in the video, “Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra keeps a package of its different works from time to time. Hundi (Dan Petty) is also a part of the counting room. The concessionaire of the Hundi Counting Room appoints the trustees, workers and State Bank of India employees of Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra. This work is still pending for several days. The same work is being done. Till now no one has noticed anything noteworthy.”
We tried several times to reach out to Champat Rai, general secretary of the trusts of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, and Dr Anil Mishra, one of the current fourteen members of the trust, but they did not respond.
Samajwadi Party chief and former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has posted on Facebook on June 9 demanding several investigations.
He wrote on X, “Who is in these public backs, which country’s traditional faith is being taken into consideration? Who is protecting those who have committed the sin of theft? Who are connected with the people related to the strings of this crime and have reached so far? Who is the unrighteous one, in whose hands this whole scandal is? What is the hidden thing in the story of this scam?”
BJP leader and many times minority brother Bhushan Sharan Singh has spoken of ‘fear of people at large’ on the question of alleged irregularities in the name of Ram Temple.
With confidence in the statement of Bhagwan Bhushan Sharan Singh, friendship with the powerful members is being seen.
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh said, “If I speak the truth, I will be in a lot of trouble and will be sold because they (Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust) are very big people. It is not our thing to speak the truth right now. We will speak when the time comes.”
Meanwhile, local BJP leader Petition Singh has demanded investigation from the Prime Minister on several points in his nomination papers.
Ramayan Singh told BBC Hindi, “There are many names like Ramashankar Yadav TI Daniel Mishra, Anukalp Mishra and Avnish Mishra. One cannot enter a Ram temple with a pen, but anything inside the built vehicle can be checked. Apart from him, many names like Bhatija Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Anil Mishra, Anukalp Mishra and Avnish Mishra are involved in this robbery. No conclusion has been drawn from this.
Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi has said that Samajwadi Party does not have the moral right to question the alleged irregularities in the Ram Temple.
He told BBC Hindi, “The Samajwadi Party does not have the right to speak. The Samajwadi Party has created all kinds of obstacles in the path of the Ram Temple. They did not even cooperate in the construction of the Ram Temple. The sin of firing on Ram supporters is still a stigma on the Samajwadi Party. So the Samajwadi Party has no right.”
However, he also said, “The questions it raises are certainly serious and Ram supporters are concerned about them. Samadhan has been formed to address these questions. We hope that the truth will come out in your report. If any irregularities or omissions are found against any person in the investigation, strict action will be taken.”
Published by Tomorrow’s Interview Newsroom for the BBC.