The Crossbill News Desk
Ayodhya’s saint community has demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into allegations of financial irregularities involving offerings and funds at the Ram temple, with seers warning that they could launch a major agitation if an independent investigation is not ordered.
At a meeting held in Ayodhya on Tuesday (August 25), religious leaders demanded action against former Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai, former Trust member Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao, according to The Free Press Journal.
The meeting, chaired by “Computer Baba”, witnessed tense scenes after police and local intelligence personnel arrived at the venue. The seers objected to their presence, alleging that the gathering and discussions on the alleged irregularities were being interfered with.
Tensions escalated further when media personnel were reportedly asked to leave the venue, prompting objections from the saints.
The seers alleged that the Uttar Pradesh government’s Special Investigation Team, constituted to look into the allegations, had so far acted only against lower-level individuals while those allegedly involved at higher levels had escaped scrutiny.
They argued that the investigation needed to be taken out of the hands of the state authorities and handed over to the CBI to ensure an impartial probe into the matter.
Following the meeting, “Computer Baba” said the saint community was prepared to intensify its campaign if its demand was ignored.
“If required, we will come to Ayodhya with one lakh saints and launch an agitation,” he said.
The religious leaders also alleged that attempts were being made to prevent them from raising the issue publicly in Ayodhya. They said they were preparing a memorandum to be submitted to the Uttar Pradesh chief minister.
The seers further said they would seek Ram Lalla’s darshan and apologise to Lord Ram over the alleged theft of offerings from the temple.
The allegations of theft and irregularities involving donations at the Ram temple first surfaced in June. The Uttar Pradesh government subsequently constituted an SIT to investigate the matter.
On June 26, police arrested eight people in connection with an FIR that had been registered the previous day, roughly two weeks after the SIT was formed.
The fresh demand by sections of the saint community for a CBI investigation, however, suggests that questions over the alleged irregularities have continued despite the arrests and the ongoing state-level probe.
The controversy has also provided the opposition with another line of attack against the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh and emerged as an embarrassment for a party that has closely associated itself with the construction and consecration of the Ram temple.
At a meeting held in Ayodhya on Tuesday (August 25), religious leaders demanded action against former Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai, former Trust member Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao, according to The Free Press Journal.
The meeting, chaired by “Computer Baba”, witnessed tense scenes after police and local intelligence personnel arrived at the venue. The seers objected to their presence, alleging that the gathering and discussions on the alleged irregularities were being interfered with.
Tensions escalated further when media personnel were reportedly asked to leave the venue, prompting objections from the saints.
The seers alleged that the Uttar Pradesh government’s Special Investigation Team, constituted to look into the allegations, had so far acted only against lower-level individuals while those allegedly involved at higher levels had escaped scrutiny.
They argued that the investigation needed to be taken out of the hands of the state authorities and handed over to the CBI to ensure an impartial probe into the matter.
Following the meeting, “Computer Baba” said the saint community was prepared to intensify its campaign if its demand was ignored.
“If required, we will come to Ayodhya with one lakh saints and launch an agitation,” he said.
The religious leaders also alleged that attempts were being made to prevent them from raising the issue publicly in Ayodhya. They said they were preparing a memorandum to be submitted to the Uttar Pradesh chief minister.
The seers further said they would seek Ram Lalla’s darshan and apologise to Lord Ram over the alleged theft of offerings from the temple.
The allegations of theft and irregularities involving donations at the Ram temple first surfaced in June. The Uttar Pradesh government subsequently constituted an SIT to investigate the matter.
On June 26, police arrested eight people in connection with an FIR that had been registered the previous day, roughly two weeks after the SIT was formed.
The fresh demand by sections of the saint community for a CBI investigation, however, suggests that questions over the alleged irregularities have continued despite the arrests and the ongoing state-level probe.
The controversy has also provided the opposition with another line of attack against the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh and emerged as an embarrassment for a party that has closely associated itself with the construction and consecration of the Ram temple.
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