Shalabh
Dinendra Das
Ayodhya/Lucknow: Nirmohi Akhara chief and Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust member Dinendra Das on Wednesday questioned the exit of former general secretary Champat Rai, claiming his resignation was not placed before other trustees during the July 6 meeting and that a majority of members did not favour accepting Rai’s exit as no evidence linking him to the recent donation theft had emerged in preliminary investigations.In a significant development amid the ongoing restructuring of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra, Dinendra Das said trust treasurer Swami Govind Dev Giri informed members that Rai and Mishra had resigned on moral grounds and their resignations were subsequently accepted.Das’s remarks carry weight because the Supreme Court, while deciding the Ayodhya title dispute, had directed the Centre to ensure adequate representation of the Nirmohi Akhara in the trust constituted for the Ram temple.Interacting with mediapersons, Das said most trust members were not inclined to accept Rai’s resignation since preliminary investigations had not established his involvement in the alleged donation theft.According to the meeting minutes, Giri first presented a report on major religious events and activities organised at the Ram temple and tabled the unaudited financial statement for 2025-26 for approval. Newly appointed general secretary Krishna Mohan then shared the preliminary findings of the special investigation team.“When Rai’s role could not be established in the investigation, there was no need to remove him,” Das said. However, during the press conference held after the July 6 meeting, Giri maintained that, after consulting founder trustee and senior advocate K Parasaran, the trust had decided to accept the resignations of both Rai and Mishra.Das also took exception to the role of temple administrator Gopal Nagarakatte (Rao). “He was not familiar with Vaishnav religious traditions. Rituals before Ram Lalla must follow Vaishnav customs. Positivity will spread only when the correct religious practices are observed. If politics continues in front of Ram Lalla, how will positivity emerge from the temple?” he said.Meanwhile, Nagarakatte was seen leaving Vaidehi Bhawan, where Giri stays during his visits to Ayodhya. He said he had been asked to maintain distance whenever trust meetings were being held but would continue overseeing temple administration till July 15.“When the new team takes over, we will decide the future course,” Nagarakatte said.Although the trust decided on July 6 not to invite Nagarakatte as a special invitee to future meetings, no restrictions have been imposed on his movement within the temple complex.Actor Anupam Kher, who visited the Ram temple and offered prayers to Ram Lalla on Wednesday, likened the donation theft to a burglary. “The blame should be on those who steal valuables, not on the house where the theft takes place,” he said.
