VHP chief Alok Kumar defends Champat Rai amid Ram Temple donation row

VHP President Alok Kumar defended Champat Rai over allegations linked to Ram Temple donations, saying the Trust acted promptly to ensure a transparent investigation. He also criticised political leaders demanding Rai's resignation, claiming they followed different standards in similar situations

New Delhi: Amid the controversy surrounding financial irregularities linked to Ram Temple donations, Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) President Alok Kumar on Monday strongly defended Champat Rai, former General Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

He also launched a sharp attack on political leaders demanding his resignation, alleging that many of them themselves remained in office despite facing serious allegations in the past.

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Champat Rai had stepped down from the post earlier this week, citing moral responsibility, after allegations surfaced regarding the pilfering of offerings like cash, ornaments and silver bricks, made by devotees at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

Addressing the issue, Alok Kumar said the actions taken by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust clearly demonstrated its commitment to ensuring a transparent, impartial and time-bound investigation into the matter.

He said it had “become self-evident that the trustees of the Ram Janmabhoomi Trust are keen on and actively making arrangements for a thorough and speedy investigation into the events that took place in Ayodhya.”

Explaining the sequence of measures taken by the Trust, the VHP leader outlined what he described as four important steps initiated immediately after the allegations came to light.

“When this incident came to light, the trustees conducted a preliminary enquiry, identified the guilty parties, and recovered Rs 80 lakh. Immediately following this preliminary probe, I personally visited Ayodhya; Champat ji himself stepped forward, stating, ‘I am the General Secretary; the truth must come out, you may interrogate me first’,” Kumar said.

He further stated that after receiving the preliminary findings of the Special Investigation Team (SIT), the Trust initiated legal proceedings without delay.

“The eight individuals identified by the SIT were named in the FIR, with a provision for ‘others’ included in the ninth column; furthermore, the trustees formally requested a comprehensive investigation into the entire matter and all allegations,” he said.

Referring to concerns that Champat Rai’s continuation in office could potentially influence the investigation, Kumar said both Rai and Trust member Anil Mishra voluntarily stepped aside to facilitate a fair probe.

“Regarding the fourth point, concerns that Champat ji remaining in office might allow him to influence witnesses or alter administrative arrangements, thereby obstructing the investigation. Both Champat ji and Anil Mishra immediately offered their resignations to pave the way for a swift enquiry.

“These four steps, all of which are in the public domain, demonstrate the trustees’ equal eagerness to ensure the truth is revealed and the guilty are apprehended,” he said.

Alok Kumar then turned his criticism towards political leaders who had demanded Champat Rai’s resignation, arguing that many had adopted different standards when allegations were made against themselves or their colleagues.

“I would also like to examine the conduct of those who were demanding resignations: consider Kejriwal ji, when allegations arose, and he was arrested (with his bail application subsequently rejected), people expected him to resign, yet he insisted on continuing his duties as Chief Minister from within the jail,” he said.

“Similarly, when former Prime Minister Narashima Rao came into a minority government, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MPs were summoned and bribed with cash, a scandal that was exposed; no resignation was sought,” he claimed.

“Then there was the Bofors case, where top politicians including Rajiv Gandhi faced allegations involving Rs 64 crore but did not resign,” Alok Kumar stated.

He claimed that the conduct of Champat Rai differed significantly from that of political leaders facing legal proceedings.

“They did not resign; this is the difference in the conduct between Champat ji and the senior leaders of the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party,” he added.