Gurugram, June 21 (IANS). Senior Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Surendra Jain expressed his opinion amid allegations of alleged irregularities and theft in donations received in Ayodhya Ram temple. He has said that considering the seriousness of the matter, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust itself has demanded an investigation by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). He expressed hope that after the investigation report comes within 15 days, the whole matter will end.
Surendra Jain said while talking to news agency IANS on Saturday that various types of allegations have been made since the beginning of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. Sometimes such allegations have been coming forward to weaken the movement, sometimes to question the existence of Lord Ram and sometimes to question the credibility of the people associated with the movement.
He said that allegations have been made at various levels since the Ram Janmabhoomi movement started in 1984. Sometimes such efforts were made to stop the construction of the temple, sometimes to defame the movement and sometimes to question the integrity of the agitators. But time and again these allegations have been proven untrue. This time too, the initial allegations were made by some political persons whose credibility has itself been questioned. However, when similar things started coming to light from different sources, the organization took the matter seriously and demanded an investigation.
Jain said that considering the seriousness of the allegations, the Trust had demanded the formation of a SIT from the Uttar Pradesh government. He said that only an impartial investigation can answer all the questions. We felt that if the discussion on allegations is increasing then there should be a fair investigation. Therefore, we demanded the government to constitute a SIT so that the truth of the entire matter can come out.”
Despite reports of alleged irregularities related to donations in Ram temple, there has been no decline in the faith of devotees. Citing the number of devotees coming to the temple, Surendra Jain said that the number of visitors has remained stable. He told that about 92 thousand devotees had reached the temple on June 15. On June 16, this number was 82,250, while on June 17, 80,600 and on June 18, 83,300 devotees visited. He said that if people’s faith had wavered, there would have been a decline in the number of people visiting the temple, but this did not happen. People believe that Lord Ram is Maryada Purushottam and the people associated with the construction of his temple are also bound to follow Maryada. If there is any deficiency, it will be removed, but it has no effect on the faith of the devotees.
Rejecting the demands for restructuring of the trust, Surendra Jain said that Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is an organization of saints and individuals who have dedicated their lives for the construction of the temple. He said that there is no serious allegation on the intentions and life of the members of the trust. We are waiting for the SIT report. Necessary action will be taken on the basis of whatever facts emerge in the report.
Referring to the alleged allegations made by a person, Surendra Jain said that names of different organizations have come forward in connection with the silver bars or other materials which are said to be missing. He claimed that some of the material was then said to be given to another organisation, the Ramalaya Trust. Therefore, not only the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust but also other institutions and committees that were in existence during the movement should be investigated.
Jain said that the person making the allegation had later also taken the names of several prominent saints and leaders of the movement. According to him, when questions were raised against such respected people, doubts were also raised about the intention of the allegations. Despite this he said that the SIT should investigate all these aspects.
Responding to the demand for a Supreme Court-monitored investigation into the matter, the VHP leader said that the organization is not afraid of any investigation. He said that there is no mistake in our mind. Therefore, we have no hesitation in investigating at any level. At present, SIT investigation with a time limit of 15 days appears to be the most appropriate arrangement as the investigating officers are well aware of the local circumstances and facts. After the SIT report comes, if there is a need to register further FIR, conduct additional investigation or take any other legal action, then that can also be considered.
Surendra Jain said that those who are making serious allegations should have also taken recourse to the legal process to support their claims. He said that if anyone had solid evidence then he should have lodged an FIR or approached the court. Despite this, the same people against whom allegations were made demanded a fair investigation and formed the SIT. It is clear from this that we are not going to step back from the investigation. He reiterated that after the SIT report comes, any judicial or other investigation, if necessary, would also be welcomed.
–IANS
PSK/DSC