A great sin, says Dhirendra Shastri on Ram Mandir donation row; expresses faith in SIT probe
New Delhi, July 3
Spiritual leader Dhirendra Krishna Shastri on Friday condemned the embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, describing the alleged act as "not just a sin but a great sin," while urging people to have faith in the ongoing investigation and the country's legal system.
Speaking after arriving at Ayodhya airport, Shastri said, "I have already spoken about this earlier as well, and I have said before that this is not a sin but a great sin, and God will punish it. But I would also like to say that we should all have trust in the law and order of the country and in the SIT, as the investigation is ongoing. I have full faith in the country's legal system and the government, and all the accused will be punished..."
Shastri arrived in Ayodhya to visit the ashram of Mahant Sant Ram Das, the guru of Hanumangarhi priest Raju Das Ji, who recently passed away. After paying his respects, he is scheduled to depart from the Ayodhya airport later in the day.
His remarks come amid an ongoing controversy over the misappropriation of donations and offerings at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
Earlier, the Trust's Office In-charge Prakash Gupta had alleged that the irregularities were linked to workers engaged by the State Bank of India (SBI) for counting offerings at the temple under an agreement between the bank and the Trust.
Speaking on the issue, Gupta had said that the SBI was responsible for the counting process and had deployed personnel for the task. He maintained that while a member of the Trust supervised the counting, there was no knowledge of the alleged theft at the time.
Gupta asserted that the Trust had no role in the alleged embezzlement, saying the workers brought by SBI for counting donations may have been involved in the misappropriation. He also noted that anyone could level allegations against the Trust, but insisted that the responsibility for the counting process rested with the bank under the existing arrangement.
The controversy deepened after eight individuals were arrested in connection with the alleged embezzlement. According to Gupta, the accused were associated with the counting process, while one of them, identified as Tinnu Yadav, was responsible for overseeing the counting operations and certain maintenance activities within the temple premises.
The allegations have sparked widespread public and political attention, with several leaders and religious figures calling for transparency and accountability.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As an outsider looking in, it's concerning to see donations meant for a sacred place being mishandled. But it's also heartening that religious leaders like Shastri are speaking out against corruption. I hope the investigation brings clarity and accountability. Every religion deserves transparent management of its holy sites.
I respect Shastri ji's stance, but let's not forget that the Trust itself should have better oversight. If SBI workers can steal donations so easily, there's clearly a systemic failure. The Trust should have installed CCTV cameras and multiple layers of verification. Embezzlement of temple funds is not just a sin, it's a crime that shakes people's faith. Time for serious reforms, not just spiritual condemnation.
Sad to see such incidents happening at the holiest of places. The Ram Mandir is a symbol of faith for crores of Hindus. Those who stole donations should be made an example of. I'm glad Dhirendra Shastri is speaking the truth without any fear. We need more such courageous voices in the religious community. 🔥
Dhirendra Shastri has such a unique way of putting things - "not a sin but a great sin" really drives home the gravity of the situation. But what's disappointing is that this is just one more case in a long list of temple fund mismanagement issues. Trust or SBI, the blame game won't help. We need independent audits of all major temple trusts. People's devotion is being taken for granted, and that truly is a great sin.
J James A It's good to see We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.