Gopal Rao says Ram Temple trust asked him to stay away, not removed
NEW DELHI: Gopal Rao, a special invitee member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Wednesday claimed that he had not been removed from the trust and had only been asked to stay away from its meetings for some time amid the ongoing donation theft controversy.His remarks came after the trust accepted the resignations of former general secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra, who stepped down taking what the Trust described as ‘moral responsibility’ amid the row. The trust had also announced that Rao would be removed as an administrator and from the list of specially invited members.Speaking to reporters for the first time since the trust meeting held on Monday, Rao said he had not been expelled from the Trust and would cooperate with its decision.”The Trust has some invited members. After this controversy began, two people resigned on moral grounds. Their resignations were accepted. ‘Everyone then decided that I should not attend the Trust’s proceedings for a few days. I will cooperate with the new arrangement. Once the new team takes charge, I will step aside,” he said.Rao also claimed that most of the allegations against him were false.He said all allegations against him, except those related to the alleged donation theft, were baseless. He also appealed to people not to believe rumours and asserted that the temple’s affairs were functioning smoothly.According to Rao, the gold, silver and other donations made by devotees were safe and could be verified by anyone who wished to do so. He added that action against the eight people arrested in the alleged theft case was the responsibility of the police and not the Trust.The controversy centres on allegations that donations made by devotees at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya were misappropriated by people associated with the temple’s management. An SIT set up by the Uttar Pradesh government is probing the alleged theft after its preliminary findings reportedly identified nearly 70 suspected instances of theft over a 40-day period. Eight people have been arrested so far, while investigators are also examining alleged procedural and security lapses in the temple’s donation-counting system.On Monday, Trust treasurer Swami Govind Dev Giri had said that Champat Rai and Anil Mishra had ceased to be members after their resignations were accepted. He also announced that the Trust had decided to remove Rao as an administrator and from the list of specially invited members.Temple sources said Rao vacated his accommodation inside the temple complex on Wednesday and shifted to Karsevak Puram. He also surrendered the vehicle pass issued to him for unrestricted entry into the temple premises and met Trust treasurer Govind Dev Giri during the day.Meanwhile, the SIT investigation into the alleged donation theft is continuing. Investigators have already arrested eight accused and are examining CCTV footage, alleged security lapses and the handling of donations as part of the probe. Lawyers from the Faizabad Bar Association have also sought criminal proceedings against Champat Rai, Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao, although no FIR has been registered against the three.(with inputs from agencies)
