Ayodhya: In a move aimed at restoring confidence and putting things back on track, senior RSS functionaries held a marathon meeting in Ayodhya on Friday to deliberate on the way forward in the wake of Ram Temple donation theft controversy.The closed-door meeting, which lasted over four hours, was held at Saket Nilayam — the RSS office in Deokali locality. It was led by Akhil Bharatiya Sah Prachar Pramukh (All India Joint Publicity Chief) Narendra Thakur and attended largely by office-bearers of the organisation’s publicity wing.Though the RSS did not disclose the agenda, sources said the discussions centred on a strategy to contain the fallout of the alleged ‘chanda chori’ (donation theft) episode. One of the key decisions, sources said, was to expedite the appointment of a public relations officer or official spokesperson for the Ram Temple. The organisation is expected to identify a suitable candidate within a month.The meeting came a day after senior RSS and VHP members interacted with a large number of local saints and seers during the Sant Samaj conclave in Ayodhya to gather feedback and build consensus on the future course of action.According to sources, Friday’s deliberations also took into account the collective feedback received during Thursday’s conclave. A majority of saints reportedly favoured changes in the existing structure of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and sought greater representation for local religious leaders. They also urged the saffron organisations to take immediate steps to build wider public acceptance of the Trust’s reorganised structure.Among others present at the meeting included Awadh Prant Prachar Pramukh Dr Ashok Dubey, Ayodhya Vibhag Sah Prachar Pramukh Dr Shailendra, and Ayodhya Prachar Pramukh Amit Shankar.Sources said participants also acknowledged that the saffron organisations lacked an effective public voice when the Ram Temple Trust and Ayodhya came under criticism during the controversy. During the peak of the alleged donation embezzlement row last month, there was no experienced spokesperson to present the organisations’ position before the media, creating a communication gap that, participants felt, must not be allowed to recur. An observer familiar with the discussions said strengthening the communication mechanism was viewed as an immediate priority.10-day puja concluded at Ram templeRam Temple Trust on Friday concluded a 10-day puja ritual with a four-hour hawan inside the yagyashala. Ram Temple Trust’s interim general secretary Krishna Mohan along with his wife. performed the rituals. Ceremonies to observe Gupt Navratri had started at the yagyashala on July 15. This puja is also referred to as prayaschit puja. Nirmohi Akhara chief and permanent member of the Trust, Mahant Dinendra Das, led the 10-day puja ceremony, along with pandits and acharyas deputed by the Trust. This was the first occasion when Das led an important puja carried out by the Trust. A strong follower of Ramanandi Vaishnav practises, Das has also been leading aarti rituals in the temple for the past few weeks.
