Ram Temple ‘Theft’ Was Planned, Govt Filled Trust With Its Own People: Avimukteshwaranand

Bahraich (UP) – Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand on Tuesday alleged that the Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust was deliberately stacked with “government-chosen people” to enable “theft”, and that the SIT formed to probe the matter would inevitably give them a “clean chit”.

Speaking to reporters in Payagpur during his cow protection awareness march, the Jyotir Math seer said the construction and management of temples must remain with religious leaders.

“Not an accident, but a planned act”

“This is not an accident, but a planned act,” he said.

“Building a temple was the job of religious leaders, but the government placed its chosen people in the Trust so that it could get work done as it wished. We believe they were put there to facilitate theft,” Avimukteshwaranand alleged.

He also questioned Champat Rai’s resignation from the Trust, calling it only “for show”.

“No one has seen the resignation and he continues to function from the temple premises. The media itself recently showed that entry passes were still being issued with his signature,” he claimed.

The seer said the community of saints has lost faith in the Trust.

“The government constituted the Trust and the government itself formed the SIT. Who will punish whom? It is obvious that they will give a clean chit,” he said.

“Seers deliver decisions like a court. They have decided that they no longer have faith in this trust. It is now for the police to take further action.”

On Cow Protection

Speaking on cow protection, Avimukteshwaranand said any government that refuses to declare the cow as “rashtra mata” does not deserve public support.

“Political parties seek votes in the name of the cow, but after coming to power, they do not take concrete steps to declare it as the ‘rashtra mata’,” he said.

“We will not vote for those who do not accept the cow as ‘rashtra mata’. Any government that refuses to do so should be voted out.”

The Shankaracharya has had several run-ins with authorities this year, including an alleged confrontation with Magh Mela organisers in Prayagraj over being stopped from taking a bath on Mauni Amavasya.