Ram Temple – Trust Meeting Scheduled Amid Ayodhya Donation Misuse Allegations
Ram Temple – The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is set to meet on Monday at the Ram Temple complex in Ayodhya as allegations concerning the misuse of temple donations continue to draw political attention. The meeting is expected to take place at 3 pm and will be chaired by Mahant Nritya Gopal Das.
Trust Meeting at Temple Complex
Temple administration assistant Gopal Rao said all trust members had been informed about the meeting and were expected to attend. Speaking after reaching Shri Vaidehi Bhavan Pushp Vatika, Rao confirmed that the discussion would be held within the temple premises.
The meeting comes at a time when the alleged irregularities in donation handling have become the subject of public debate. Opposition parties have called for an independent inquiry, while BJP leaders have accused their rivals of politicising a matter linked to religious faith.
Opposition Calls for Independent Inquiry
Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad said his party had repeatedly demanded action against the trust. He said an investigation should be conducted without involving those connected to the trust, arguing that an impartial process was necessary to establish the facts.
The issue has also triggered protests outside Uttar Pradesh. In Mumbai, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray led a Ram Raksha protest at Dadar Hanuman Temple, where party workers raised concerns over the allegations involving temple donations.
Thackeray said people should not misuse the name of Lord Ram for personal gain and called for those responsible, if any wrongdoing is established, to be held accountable. He said the protest would continue until the matter was fully addressed.
Shiv Sena (UBT) Raises Questions Over Donations
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant referred to donations previously made by his party and asked for clarity about their use. He specifically questioned the whereabouts of a silver brick that he said had been donated during a visit by Thackeray.
Party leader Vinayak Raut described the Mumbai protest as the start of a wider campaign. He said the party intended to continue raising the issue in the coming days, framing it as a matter related to protecting the faith associated with Lord Ram.
Police Seek Statements From Accused
The police investigation has moved ahead with court approval to question five of the eight accused currently in judicial custody. Police sources said Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Ram Shankar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey and Manish Yadav would be questioned inside the jail and their statements would be recorded.
The Uttar Pradesh Police have also questioned accused Avinash Shukla at the Special Operations Group office in Ayodhya. Meanwhile, the Special Investigation Team visited the Ram Temple premises on Friday as part of its ongoing inquiry.
SIT Granted Additional Time for Probe
Authorities have granted the SIT a further 15 days to complete its investigation. The extension is intended to allow investigators to examine more aspects of the case and review the available evidence in detail.
Officials have said the inquiry will cover every relevant angle and that action will be taken against anyone found responsible after the investigation is completed. No final findings have been announced so far.
Religious Body Supports Champat Rai
The Ayodhya Sant Mandal has expressed support for Trust General Secretary Champat Rai amid the controversy. The religious body urged the trust not to accept any resignation from Rai, signalling its backing for him while the investigation continues.
BJP leaders have strongly rejected the Opposition’s criticism. At a BJP Shakti Kendra Sanyojak Sammelan in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accused opposition parties of turning to issues of faith after failing to gain support through caste and class-based politics.
BJP Responds to Opposition Criticism
Adityanath said the state’s double-engine government was delivering welfare benefits without discrimination and claimed that this had weakened divisive political strategies. He urged party workers to remain alert against what he described as attempts to target India’s religious beliefs.
BJP national president Nitin Nabin also criticised opposition leaders over their statements on the controversy. He said the party would not allow anyone to exploit public faith connected with the Ram Temple for political purposes.