Ram temple trust, RSS set to meet over donation row
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust will hold meet on Wednesday, July 22, to discuss the reconstitution of various committees in accordance with the its rules and deliberate on the final report of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the donation theft, if it is available by then. Meanwhile, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) too have called for a conference of Hindu seers in Ayodhya on July 23 to address the controversy surrounding the temple trust.
According to the trust's general secretary, Krishna Mohan, a special meeting of the trust has been scheduled at 3 pm in the Ram temple complex, followed by the regular meeting at 4 pm at Maniram Chawni, the premises of Trust president Nritya Gopal Das.
As per the agenda circulated by Krishna Mohan in a letter to the trustees on July 7, the July 22 meeting will take up confirmation of the proceedings of the July 6 meeting as well as the special meeting at 3 pm the same day.
The July 6 meeting was the first Trust meeting after the alleged embezzlement of donations came to light. During that meeting, the Trust constituted a special committee to recommend amendments to the Trust deed and framed guidelines for the custody, valuation and disposal of offerings made by devotees.
The proposed discussion on the SIT’s final report assumes significance as the State Government had ordered an inquiry into the embezzlement of donations received at the temple. The controversy has triggered administrative and legal action, with the probe expected to be a key issue before the trustees.
The VHP and RSS, both of which played pivotal roles in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, view the current situation as a challenge requiring collective intervention by the wider Hindu spiritual community. Sources said that several decisions are expected at the July 23 VHP-RSS meeting. One main proposal is to appoint Krishna Mohan, currently the acting general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, as the permanent general secretary.
By convening seers at Mani Ram Chhavni, a site associated with Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, president of the trust, the RSS and the VHP aim to plan their response. The participation of seers in the July 23 conference is expected to lend credibility to the trust’s efforts to navigate the controversy. Sources suggest the conference may also discuss measures to strengthen financial oversight, improve communication with devotees and reinforce public confidence in the institution.
