Ram temple donation theft controversy remains in the headlines. With the increasing pace of investigation, there is a flurry of revelations. Meanwhile, a new controversy has come to light on Thursday regarding the ancient Ram Niwas temple near the Ram temple complex. Harishankar Safariwala, who describes himself as the Panch Pramukh of the Ram Niwas temple located in Ramkot, has accused the General Secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and his associates of conspiring to take over the temple through fake documents. He said that despite his complaints, the administration has not taken any effective action till now.
In a press conference held in Lucknow, Harishankar Safariwala claimed that the Ram Niwas temple is a Panchayati temple located right next to the Ram Janmabhoomi complex. It is managed by the Panch Committee. The committee has appointed a priest for the religious functions of the temple. No person has the right to sell temple property.
He alleged that Champat Rai and his associates prepared a fake deal of about Rs 5.80 crore by showing the temple as a salable property. According to him, around Rs 60 lakh was sent to the bank accounts of the priest appointed by him and his relatives. On the basis of these documents, an attempt was made to capture the temple.
Safariwala says that the members of the temple committee were also pressurized to leave the premises by luring them with crores of rupees. But, the committee rejected the proposal saying that the temple is not the private property of any person, but is a Panchayat temple and it cannot be sold. He claimed that the present value of the temple and its adjoining land is around Rs 50 crore and its control has been with the alleged encroachers for the last five years.
He also alleged that during this period, no response was given even after asking for the account of donations and offerings made by the devotees. Harishankar Safariwala told that he has complained about this entire matter to the Prime Minister, Chief Minister and other senior officials but till now he has not been heard.
