Yesterday's important closed-door meeting of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, amid the ongoing controversy over the management of offerings and donations in the Ram temple and the SIT investigation, has given rise to new political and organizational speculations. Sources say that if the dispute prolongs, then major decisions can be taken at the organization level to save the credibility of the temple movement and VHP. Trust General Secretary Champat Rai, Trustee Dr. Anil Mishra, construction in-charge Gopal Rao along with VHP National General Secretary Bajrang Lal Bangra, Central Organization General Secretary Milind Parande and Central Co-Organization General Secretary Vinayak Rao and many senior officials were present in the meeting.
The official agenda of the meeting was not made public, but according to sources, the offering controversy, SIT investigation and the circumstances arising out of it were discussed in detail. Champat Rai is currently at the center of questions raised regarding the management of donations and offerings. In such a situation, this meeting of VHP and Trust is considered more important than the normal formal meeting. There is also discussion within the organization that to ensure that the heat of controversy does not reach the image of VHP, responsibility is being fixed and further strategy is being considered.
Along with the meeting, discussions about the resignation of Trust General Secretary Champat Rai and Trustee Dr. Anil Mishra also remained intense throughout the day in Ramnagari. However, till late evening, neither the Trust nor any related party gave any official confirmation in this regard.
According to the investigating agencies, the properties of the accused arrested in the offering theft case will also be investigated. Police say that if the investigation reveals illegally acquired properties, then action will be taken to identify them and confiscate them. Sources claim that the wealth of some accused has increased rapidly in the last few years and there has been an unusual change in their financial condition.
According to sources, in the initial days after the case of theft of offerings came to light, the officials of the Trust themselves remained busy in investigation and inquiry. The process of interrogation and recovery of employees also continued at the trust level. Later there was a demand for formation of SIT and on the seventh day a special investigation team was formed. This is the reason why questions are being raised even on the action taken in the first 6-7 days. There is discussion that if an independent agency had investigated at the same time, many important facts could have come to light. However, these claims have not been officially confirmed. At present, SIT is investigating the entire matter and investigation of all aspects is going on.
