Ayodhya: Amid countrywide furore and an ongoing investigation into the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust held a crucial meeting on Monday and took some important decisions.
The Trust accepted the resignations of general secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra, appointed newly-inducted trustee Krishna Mohan as the interim chief and announced a fresh administrative review to address the fallout from the alleged donation theft.
“We had no choice but to accept the resignations. Champat Rai and Anil Mishra have submitted their resignations. Krishna Mohan ji has been given interim charge as general secreta
ry,” Trust treasurer Govind Giri told reporters at a press conference after the meeting, which lasted over three hours.
Mohan, who was seated beside Giri, said the Trust will address the shortcomings and take all necessary measures to regain the confidence of devotees.
“We will work on the loopholes. We will take every necessary step to regain the trust of the people. We will work to restore the trust’s image,” Mohan said.
The Trust announced that it would meet again on July 22, when it expects to review the Special Investigation Team’s final report and appoint new trustees and office-bearers.
Giri admitted that the controversy had deeply hurt the organisation.
“We are all hurt and saddened by this. Whether the theft was small or large is secondary. What pains us is that such an atmosphere was allowed to develop here,” he said.
He informed that Rai and Mishra had submitted their resignations before the meeting.
“Champat Rai was deeply pained. He felt that until the culprits are caught and receive appropriate punishment, it would not be proper for him to continue,” Giri said.
“Once the resignation had been tendered, the decision to accept or reject it was no longer in our hands. Under the Trust’s constitution, it is deemed accepted immediately. We had no other option,” he said.