'Centre should take over Ram temple, world laughing at Hindus'

"Hindus across the world are upset. People of other religions are laughing at the Hindus today, making negative comments about their faith," Kartik Chopra, spokesperson of the Nirmohi Akhara, has said. Speaking on the latest edition of AI With Sanket about the donation-theft row at the Ram Temple, which has snowballed with each passing day, he said in a disgruntled voice that the central government should take charge of the matter rather than a state-level Special Investigation Team, because the issue has international ramifications.

Also read: Ram Temple donation probe: Is SIT's credibility already in question?

The Akhara, a prominent Hindu religious sect founded by saint Ramananda, is known for its devotion and commitment to Lord Ram. Its sarpanch, Mahant Raja Ramchandra Acharya, who was also present alongside Chopra on the show, expressed its disappointment over the state of affairs, citing Articles 25 and 26 to claim that the government has nothing to do with running a religious place.

The Akhara has demanded that the central government dissolve the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and take over as receiver of the Ram temple's land and assets, alleging that every foreign exchange remittance received by the trust under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act should be independently investigated.

"Don't bring more dishonour to Lord Rama. Let the central government, which formed this trust, immediately dissolve it and take over the receivership of land and all its assets in the same way as was done on January 7, 1993, under the Acquisition of Certain Area at Ayodhya Ordinance, which later became an Act," Chopra said.

He clarified that the Akhara is not the owner of the temple land. "The title of the land vests in Ram Lalla. The donations, the offerings, the property, and now this new temple belong to Ram Lalla," he said, adding that since Ram Lalla is considered a perpetual minor under law, a shebait (human custodian) is appointed to act on the deity's behalf, as it cannot appear in court or manage its own worship.

Also read: Why there's some optimism around SC's handling of Ram Temple donation row

Chopra said the Supreme Court, in its verdict, primarily heard arguments on two issues arising from the Allahabad High Court order — the Akhara's shebaitship, which was undisputed, and the maintainability of its suit. He said the Akhara's cause of action began in 1953, when the city magistrate held that the 1950 proceedings under which the Akhara's charge and management of the site were taken away would be kept pending until the related civil suits were heard.

The Akhara spokesperson said the current investigation should extend to donations received by the trust from Hindus across the world, in dollars, pounds, euros and other currencies.

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He questioned why the trust was not registered as a public charitable trust open to the Right to Information Act, noting that the Supreme Court had directed the government to form a scheme of management, not necessarily a trust. Chopra also referred to the Tirupati laddu scam, which was unearthed a few years ago at the popular Hindu shrine, which is managed by a trust.

Chopra said the Supreme Court's direction that the Akhara be given adequate role and representation in any scheme of management has not been implemented by the central government. He proposed that a high-level committee of officials with credibility oversee the Ram Temple probe process.

Also read: How Ayodhya Ram temple donation row put faith and transparency to test

Chopra also said that if the existing trust continues, the three vacant seats on it should be filled only by Akhara members, without involvement in donation handling. He also said the Akhara could give its inputs on how Lord Ram's puja should be conducted according to the Ramanandi Bhairavi tradition.

Access and puja concerns

Chopra raised concerns over devotees being asked to make offerings only through QR codes, while mobile phones are allowed inside the temple premises. He said devotees should be permitted to offer coins or currency directly as part of religious custom, protected under Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, and that prasad should be prepared within the temple premises for devotees.

Also read: Ram mandir donation scam: Survey on 2027 poll leaves BJP and RSS jittery

Mahant Acharya appealed to the Centre and the Supreme Court to ensure the deity's 'Pran Pratishtha' (consecration) be done as per scriptures. "It was done keeping elections in sight, and we are seeing the consequences today," he said.