Ram Temple Funds Theft: Seers Demand Action Against Champat Rai, Others, Threaten to Launch Massive Agitation

New Delhi: Seers in Ayodhya on Tuesday (August 25) demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged embezzlement of funds at the Ram temple. They have also demanded action against former Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai along with former Trust member Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao, reported The Free Press Journal.

High drama was witnessed during the meeting of the saint community, chaired by “Computer Baba”, after police and local intelligence personnel reached the venue. The seers alleged that that their meeting and discussion on the issue were being obstructed and questioned the presence of police and intelligence personnel at a gathering meant for religious leaders.

The situation became further tense when media personnel were asked to leave the venue and the seers objected to the move.

The saints alleged that so far the investigation by the Uttar Pradesh government’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) had resulted in action against only those at the lower level, while bigger players had been spared, an allegation that has often been also levelled by the opposition against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Uttar Pradesh.

Following the meeting, “Computer Baba” said the saint community would launch a big agitation seeking an impartial investigation and action against those found responsible.

“If required, we will come to Ayodhya with one lakh saints and launch an agitation," he said.

The seers also alleged that they are being prevented from speaking on the issue in Ayodhya and that they were also preparing to submit the memorandum to the chief minister.

They further added that they would seek Ram Lalla's darshan and apologise to Lord Ram over the alleged theft of offerings from the temple.

Allegations that donations were stolen from the Ram Mandir surfaced in June, about a week after which the Uttar Pradesh government constituted the SIT to probe the matter. Roughly two weeks after that, on June 26, the police arrested eight persons in its FIR lodged only the previous day.

The controversy has come as a severe embarrassment for the BJP.

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