A BJP functionary from Ayodhya has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealing for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into alleged irregularities in donations offered by devotees at the Ram temple. The controversy erupted after Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav raised doubts about the management of donations.
BJP leader demands investigation
Rajneesh Singh, BJP's spokesperson in Ayodhya, said the Ram temple is the center of faith for crores of Hindus. Devotees from across the country and abroad offer donations according to their devotion. He stated that if any financial irregularity is found in the donation, it is not only an economic crime but also deeply hurts the religious sentiments of crores of devotees. He emphasized that strict action against the guilty is extremely necessary.
Controversy sparked by Akhilesh Yadav
The controversy surfaced on Sunday after former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav alleged misappropriation of funds and called for a higher-level investigation. In response, temple trust general secretary Champat Rai said on Sunday evening that volunteers and staff members of a prominent public sector bank were involved in counting the money. He added that nothing noticeable had been brought to their notice so far, and the procedure to count the cash was ongoing.
Unscheduled visit by construction committee chairman
Amid the allegations, Ram temple construction committee chairman Nripendra Mishra made an unscheduled visit to the temple on Tuesday, days before his scheduled visit. According to trust members, Mishra held a three-hour-long meeting and sought details about the progress of construction work among other things. The unscheduled visit indicates that the matter of the Ram temple trust's internal working has escalated.
While office bearers of the Ram temple trust remained tight-lipped, several charges pertaining to wrongful conduct and counting kept surfacing with time. The BJP functionary's letter to the Prime Minister underscores the seriousness of the issue and the demand for a transparent investigation by a Union law enforcement agency like the CBI.
