Ayodhya’s Ram temple being in the news is not a new thing. The Ram Mandir movement lasted not just for one but many generations, in which many heroes and villains emerged. When the Ram Temple opened for the devotees in 2024, it seemed that this chapter had come to an end, but the current incident once again brought the Ram Temple into the limelight and Champat Rai is at the center of these headlines.
Faith of crores, daily donation of lakhs and this donation has caught the attention of thieves. There has been theft in Ram temple donation. What was being denied earlier. It was proved, the money was recovered, FIR was lodged, resignations were issued, but the story and character of Ram Mandir donation goes beyond this criminal case.
Ram Mandir Sacrifices were made to build it, cases were fought, politics took place and when Ram Temple was built, it was considered a victory for the faith of Hindus. One reason was that Lord Ram is considered Maryada Purushottam and if people engaged in the service of Maryada Purushottam were accused of theft, the faith, trust and peace of crores of people was bound to be shaken.
Questions raised on those who steal
It was not just about theft. The house of God was stolen and that too when sacrifices were made at every level to build the temple. Now questions are also being asked from every corner.
Questions were raised on those who stole. Questions were also raised on those who had brought these thieves to the treasury. The biggest name among these names is that of Champat Rai Bansal. People very close to Champat Rai, associated with the Ram Mandir movement, Ram Mandir construction and Ram Mandir Trust work, were the ones who were stealing the donation money. Were hiding it. Was consuming donations. This work was happening right under the nose of Champat Rai. The biggest and deepest question mark was bound to be on this face.
Why is Champat Rai in the circle of questions?
Champat Rai himself is not accused of stealing money, but his close people are accused of it. Fingers were raised that he has been arrested. When fingers were raised, Champat Rai’s reputation built over years was burnt to ashes.
Questions arose whether the theft took place right under Champat Rai’s nose or with his consent, whether Champat Rai wanted to cleverly hide the case or whether he was negligent when the theft came to light, because by the time the FIR was filed. The breach in the donations of Ram devotees had become a household news and concern.
Chronology of donation theft case
On June 7, SP leader Pawan Pandey alleged that donations from devotees were being stolen in the Ayodhya Ram temple. On June 8, Akhilesh Yadav raised the issue on social media, after which the matter became politically significant. People associated with Ram Mandir Trust were repeatedly saying that there was no wrongdoing. Champat Rai also said that nothing has come to light in the internal audit which can be considered noteworthy. BJP also came to the rescue. The fight seemed to be more about political score than truth and lies. BJP alleged that Akhilesh Yadav is telling lies, the consequences of which he will have to bear in the 2027 UP assembly elections.
When such news started coming that everything was not well, the UP government formed a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) on June 14, which reached Ayodhya the very next day and continued the investigation for three days i.e. till June 18. On June 23, the SIT gave a preliminary report, on the basis of which an FIR was registered on June 25 in the theft of offering, the theft of which Champat Rai was completely denying.
A case was registered in the same theft. In this, the names of such people were there with whom Champat was surrounded. Ram Shankar Yadav alias Tinnu… was the driver of Champat Rai. Apart from this, Anukalp Mishra, Avinash Shukla, Karunesh Pandey, Lavkush Mishra, Rama Shankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava and Manish Yadav are in custody. All of them got jobs in Ram temple directly or indirectly on the recommendation of Champat Rai. All of them used to count the donations received from Ram devotees. Thefts were committed here.
Who is Champat Rai?
Was theft of donations in Ram temple just sleight of hand or an organized crime? Investigation and politics are around this issue, so it is very important to understand who is Champat Rai? How a chemistry teacher became the record keeper of the Ram Mandir case
Champat Rai Bansal, a chemistry professor at the same RSM Degree College in Dhampur, Bijnor, was arrested in 1977. The reason was Champat’s association with RSS. Like thousands of other Sangh workers, Champat also remained in jail for 18 months during the Emergency. When Champat was released after emergency. Moved to Vishwa Hindu Parishad, where he came close to VHP President Ashok Singhal. Champat was given the task of preparing the youth in Awadh area for the Ram Janmabhoomi temple movement. The most special places where Champat worked were Agra, Dehradun and Haridwar. Ayodhya became the center of Champat’s work.
People say that Champat remembered every street of Ayodhya, every argument and date by heart and this became more important when the case started moving rapidly in the courts. The lawyer started taking the help of Champat Rai for dates and data. Champat got the name of Ram Lala’s record keeper.
How did Champat Rai become important in the construction of Ram temple?
When BJP included the Ram Mandir movement in its political agenda, Champat came close to not one but many generations of BJP leaders. The disputed structure was demolished on 6 December 1992. Champat Rai’s name was included among the conspirators, but in September 2020, the CBI court acquitted all the leaders including him.
On November 9, 2019, the Supreme Court gave its verdict clearing the way for the construction of Ram Temple. Champat Rai also became the center of construction of the new Ram temple. Champat Rai’s importance remained constant from the Bhoomi Pujan of Ram Mandir on 5 August 2020 till the construction of Ram Mandir on 22 January 2024.
He would clear the files related to the construction of the temple. Coordinating with L&T team and giving updates on the construction of Ram temple through media. In 2021, when VHP started the fund dedication campaign for the construction of Ram temple, Champat played an important role in it. It was estimated that VHP collected Rs 2 thousand crores from this campaign.
What is the role of Champat Rai in VHP?
Vishwa Hindu Parishad played a role in the construction of Ram temple in many ways. Champat Rai is the vice president of this VHP. When Ram Janmabhoomit Teerth Kshetra Trust was formed on 19 February 2020, Champat was made the Founder General Secretary. Champat was staying in Karsevak Puram of Ayodhya and looking after the work of the trust. It has been alleged that during this period, he gave jobs to people arbitrarily, some of whom stole people’s donations. Champat tried to suppress this controversy in the beginning itself.
According to some reports, while Champat was saying that everything is fine, at the same time he was going with the police to the houses of those who stole donations and was also recovering money. Not only this, when the way for the construction of Ram temple was cleared, the land prices of Ayodhya increased rapidly in 2021. Political parties alleged that some lands were bought at throwaway prices and were sold within minutes at prices that had increased manifold.
Politics over theft of Ram temple donations
Meanwhile, the first statement of RSS has come, which has officially come out on donation theft. Ram Mandir… The faith related to Ram Mandir and the role of RSS in the construction of Ram Mandir can be considered the biggest. Donors are common people among whom RSS works. The theft of donations has created a very negative atmosphere among these common people. The Supreme Court had said in its decision that the construction of Ram temple should be done by a trust. The trust was created by the central government. If the central government also suggests representatives in it, then the consequences of tarnishing the credibility can also be political. Nripendra Mishra, chairman of the construction committee in Ram Mandir Teerth Kshetra Trust, came forward and admitted the mistakes.
For the opponents of BJP, this case seems like a golden opportunity a year before the assembly elections. Especially Samajwadi Party and Congress, both these parties have to be uncomfortable on the issues of Ram Temple and Hindu politics, but now it seems as if they have got a chance to target BJP.
What will be the political outcome?
Ram Mandir was the most successful movement for BJP after independence. In the political calendar of BJP, the foundation of its journey to power was laid through this movement. Repeated questions being raised, being accused, not getting answers, are hurting the hearts of those voters who left no stone unturned with their body, mind and money to make BJP win. If questions enter the hearts of these voters, then there is a possibility of political loss to the party.
Champat Rai is completely embroiled in the controversy. Its flame started at the national level from the social media post of Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav. Again Aam Aadmi Party, Congress and BSP also came forward on this issue. Politically, it is gradually looking like an informal alliance, which is finding it a bit complicated for BJP to fight directly.
Will Kashi-Mathura be impacted?
The issue is not just Ayodhya and Ram Mandir administration. Related to this is the question of faith of crores of Hindus, the sequel of which was considered to be Kashi and Mathura.
Both Kashi and Mathura cases are in the court. Still they have sentimental value. These emotions can act as currency in the election environment, which can be a ladder to power for one party and a fake coin for the other party. If donations are stolen in Ram temple, it is also a direct attack on the concept of Ram Rajya, whose dreams are shown in election speeches, whose stories are in the stories of grandparents. If theft is taking place in Ayodhya itself, then does this theft have far-reaching consequences or was it just the work of some local dishonest people. The theft may be of a few lakhs or of crores. Be it gold stones or silver Kak Bhusundi, theft is theft.
Crores have faith in Ram Raj. Theft is also a crime in Ram temple. And sin too. Faith was also a foundation of the Supreme Court’s decision on Ram Temple. People’s faith in Ram has been unbroken for centuries. Faith in Lord Ram or Ram temple is solid, but it will not be easy to wash away the stigma of theft in donations. Champat Rai Bansal was seen as a devotee of Ram at all stages of his life, but at this juncture of his life his decisions ruined all his past hard work.
Read this also- Amidst donation theft controversy in Ram temple, factionalism intensifies, a group of saints engaged in saving Champat.
Input: Bureau Report, TV9 Bharatvarsh
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