Ram Mandir Theft Issue Still On Surface?

The BJP finds itself in a very precarious situation as state assembly elections draw near, with a growing and increasingly visible conflict between the Sangh and the Sadhu-Sanyasi community over recent events, a source says. In a recent meeting, the Sadhu-Sanyasi categorically rejected the findings of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) report, which granted a clean chit to all trust members actively involved in managing funds, including the general secretary of the trust formed by the central government, the source says. The Sadhu-Sanyasi feel that treasurer Govind Ji and trustee Anil Mishra are equally responsible for this heinous crime, the source says. They expressed that it is completely unacceptable to put three very junior people behind bars and hold them solely responsible while senior figures walk free. 

The seers warned that if law and order agencies and responsible authorities fail to punish those actually responsible, they will call a massive meeting of at least one lakh Sadhu-Sanyasi in Ayodhya to push their cause, the source says. Adding fuel to the fire, the disclosure of a nine-page letter written by ex-general secretary Champat Rai has created another major front of confrontation. In the document, Rai blamed Nripendra Mishra, the in-charge of temple construction and a former top bureaucrat, for gross inaction despite the matter being brought directly to his notice, the source says. Rai further added that unauthorized changes to the temple's design, made without proper consultation, resulted in structural defects and water leakage, the source says.

Because Nripendra Mishra is known to be very close to the Prime Minister, directly confronting him is likely to trigger further stages of high-level political fallout, the source says. Given that the Shri Ram Temple is a monumental center of faith and belief for crores of people, the ongoing controversy surrounding public donations could cause severe damage, the source says. If the issue is not settled amicably and all individuals responsible for this crime, irrespective of their position, beliefs, and high-level connections, are put behind bars, the BJP will likely feel intense heat during the upcoming election period, the source says.