Former Ram temple trust general secretary Champat Rai has said that the Nripendra Misra-led committee’s word on the construction of the temple in Ayodhya was absolute and added that Misra brought some other people into the panel.
Misra, the chairman of the Ram temple construction committee, accused the media of spreading falsehood and creating controversy around the issue.
Champat Rai places onus on Nripendra Mishra
The nine-page note by Rai – dated August 18 – surfaced on Thursday. In it, Rai lavished praise on Misra but added that Misra inducted people of his own choice into the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple Construction Committee. Rai said one of these people came to Ayodhya only twice in six years, and only suggestions related to security were sought from another. Rai also said a third member was regular and always attended meetings with Misra. He added that meetings were held monthly and sometimes every 15 days.
Rai stressed that the committee’s authority was absolute and that not a single task was executed without the committee’s approval. “If any decision was taken outside, it was not accepted. If something was done, it was removed,” said Rai, whose resignation from the trust was confirmed on June 26 over allegations of irregularities in the temple donation collections.
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{{/usCountry}}Rai maintained that Misra projected himself as the sole authority on all construction-related matters, even as he acknowledged the temple became a reality because of him. Rai credited Misra with ensuring the temple was inaugurated after its construction began in 2020 amid the pandemic. “This is solely the result of Nripendra ji’s work,” Rai wrote.
Rai said Misra would immediately reach out to the most capable people, bring them to Ayodhya, and get issues resolved whenever the construction faced a technical or logistical hurdle. Rai also noted that scholars and experts contributed in a spirit of service and did not take any remuneration.
Rai's document genuine, but “not a letter”
Ram Katha Sanghralaya director Sanjeev Kumar Singh clarified that Rai’s document was genuine and meant for the booklet ‘Jas Ke Tas’. Singh is curating the booklet.
“The fact is, what is being called a “letter” is not a letter at all. These are merely the points for a book,” Singh said.
“And this is not a critical letter at all. Rather, it is an appreciation for every person who contributed and cooperated in the ‘Ram Yagya’ (construction of Ram Mandir). It is a heartfelt and positive expression from a worker of the Indian saint tradition, coming from a pure and sincere heart,” Singh added.
“I am personally associated with this project. I myself gave the booklet the name ‘Jas Ka Tas’, which the respected Champat Rai has graciously accepted,” Singh said.
“To you, dear media persons who are not only our beloved but also close to us, who are refined and well-meaning, I request you to take this in the right context and, through your writing, honour every dedicated worker,” Singh said.
The document came to light days after a Special Investigation Team (SIT)’s final report into allegations of irregularities in the Ram Temple collections flagged “gross lapses” in the trust’s functioning, but exonerated Rai and Anil Mishra, a former trustee. The final report was submitted to the government on August 17. Misra dismissed reports about an internal rift within the committee.
“Until I see the letter, I will only tell you that this is a concocted story of yours [media]. There is no such letter, nor is there any such criticism, even if it were nine pages long. He has not made any such criticism. This is merely a made-up story...” he said to reporters in Ayodhya.