The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is scheduled to hold an important meeting on Wednesday, where it is expected to appoint a permanent general secretary and fill three vacant trustee positions. The meeting comes shortly after the alleged donation theft case at the Ram Temple, making it one of the trust's most significant administrative gatherings in recent weeks.

The meeting will begin at 4:00 pm under the chairmanship of Trust President Mahant Nritya Gopal Das. Treasurer Govind Dev Giri and Shankaracharya Swami Vasudevanand Saraswati have already arrived in Ayodhya to participate in the proceedings.

Race for General Secretary Post

Acting General Secretary Krishna Mohan and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) General Secretary Bajrang Lal Bagra are considered the leading contenders for the permanent general secretary's post.

The appointment is expected to play a crucial role in strengthening the trust's administrative functioning, especially at a time when the temple administration is under increased public attention.

Three Trustee Positions Vacant

The vacancies arose after the trust accepted the resignations of former General Secretary Champat Rai and trustee Dr. Anil Mishra during its meeting on 6 July. Both leaders had submitted their resignations on 26 June.

Following their exit, retired Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Krishna Mohan was appointed as the acting general secretary.

A third trustee position became vacant after the demise of Bimalendra Mohan Pratap Mishra, head of the Ayodhya royal family and a member of the trust. The meeting is expected to finalize appointments for all three vacant positions.

Meeting Held Amid Donation Theft Probe

The trust meeting is being held against the backdrop of the recently reported Ram Mandir donation theft case, which has drawn significant public attention.

While the trust has not officially stated that the matter is part of the meeting agenda, the case has heightened the importance of the discussions. The meeting is expected to focus on strengthening administrative oversight and ensuring smooth management of the temple's affairs.

CEO Appointment Nears Final Stage

Alongside the trustee appointments, the process of selecting a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Ram Temple administration has entered its final phase.

According to available information, nearly 5,500 candidates from across the country have applied online for the position. The newly appointed CEO is expected to assume charge after Raksha Bandhan (28 August).

The CEO will oversee the temple's administration, daily operations, infrastructure management, security, and facilities for devotees.

The decisions taken during Wednesday's meeting are expected to shape the future administrative structure of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust as it continues to manage one of India's most prominent religious institutions.

Senior Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh has stepped away from managing his official social media presence and personal mobile phone ahead of his proposed Ujjain-to-Ayodhya padayatra, saying he will no longer use social media during the campaign.

The announcement comes ahead of Singh's planned foot march, scheduled to begin on October 20, coinciding with Dussehra (Vijayadashami). He has said the yatra will focus on issues related to alleged financial irregularities in donations made to the Ram Temple and will not be conducted under the banner of any political party.

Official X Account Handed to Office

Singh has transferred the management of his official X (formerly Twitter) account to his office staff. His account, previously operating under the handle @digvijaya_28, has now been renamed OfficeofDVS, indicating that future updates will be issued through his office instead of being personally managed by him.

The move is part of his decision to stay away from social media while undertaking the religious march.

Personal Mobile Given to Secretary

The former chief minister has also handed over his personal mobile phone to his secretary, Sachin Vats.

In a Facebook post, Singh announced that he would no longer use his personal mobile number. He said the number would now be operated by his secretary, who would keep him informed about important messages and communications received on the phone.

Padayatra Begins on October 20

Digvijaya Singh had earlier announced that the march would begin on October 2 (Gandhi Jayanti) from the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain. However, he later revised the schedule and decided to launch the yatra on October 20, the day of Dussehra this year.

The march will conclude in Ayodhya, where Singh plans to raise questions over the alleged theft of offerings made at the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple.

'Now I Want to Work for Dharma'

Speaking about his future political role, Singh said he has turned 80 years old and has informed the Congress leadership that younger leaders should now be given opportunities.

He noted that the party had given him multiple opportunities to serve as an MLA, Member of Parliament and Rajya Sabha member, adding that he now wishes to dedicate himself to what he described as the protection of dharma.

He also clarified that he would neither make political statements nor post political content on Facebook or X during the course of the march.

Focus on Donation Transparency

According to Singh, the primary objective of the yatra is to seek transparency regarding donations collected for the Ram Temple. He has claimed that he personally donated ₹1.11 lakh for the temple's construction and has alleged financial irregularities in the management of contributions.

He said he plans to seek legal advice before approaching a court in Ayodhya to demand a complete accounting of the donation funds.

Singh has also invited devotees who contributed to the Ram Temple fund to join the march with their donation receipts.

Kar Sevak to Be Chief Guest

Rather than inviting senior political leaders, Singh said Santosh Dubey, a kar sevak who was injured during the Ayodhya movement after being hit by bullets, would be the chief guest for the yatra.

The Congress veteran maintains that the march is intended to raise issues of accountability and transparency and should not be viewed as a political campaign.

The Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly witnessed repeated disruptions on Monday as the Opposition Congress raised the issue of alleged irregularities in Ram Temple donations, leading to heated exchanges with the ruling BJP and the eventual adjournment of the House until Tuesday.

As soon as the Monsoon Session commenced, Leader of Opposition Dr Charan Das Mahant and Congress legislators entered the Assembly carrying posters alleging theft of donations collected for the Ram Temple. The Opposition accused those responsible of betraying the faith of devotees and demanded discussion on the issue.

Adjournment Motion Rejected

Responding to the Opposition's demand, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ajay Chandrakar said the matter did not fall within the jurisdiction of the Chhattisgarh Assembly or the state government.

Assembly Speaker Dr Raman Singh rejected the adjournment motion, stating that the issue was not related to the state's legislative domain.

The rejection triggered loud sloganeering from Congress members, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the proceedings briefly. Even after the House reconvened, protests continued, resulting in repeated interruptions before the Assembly was finally adjourned for the day.

Bhupesh Baghel Targets BJP

During the protest, former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel alleged that people from Chhattisgarh had also contributed donations for the construction of the Ram Temple.

He claimed that devotees had donated money in good faith but alleged that the funds had been misappropriated, accusing those responsible of betraying public trust.

The ruling BJP rejected the allegations, maintaining that the matter was already being dealt with through appropriate legal and investigative processes.

Education Issues Raised During Question Hour

Before the House was disrupted, Question Hour focused on higher education and teacher training institutions in the state.

BJP MLA Lata Usendi raised concerns over the absence of BEd and DEd courses at Shaheed Mahendra Karma University in Kondagaon and sought clarification regarding implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Replying to the questions, Higher Education Minister Tank Ram Verma said the National Education Policy has already been implemented across universities and colleges in the state.

He also informed the House that a task force has been constituted to examine proposals for starting BEd and DEd programmes in 13 colleges across Chhattisgarh.

Tribute to Teejan Bai

The Assembly proceedings began with members paying tribute to Padma Vibhushan awardee Teejan Bai, the renowned Pandavani exponent who passed away recently.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai remembered her contribution in taking Chhattisgarh's traditional folk art to global audiences and described her legacy as a source of inspiration for future generations.

Leader of Opposition Dr Charan Das Mahant also paid tribute, recalling her immense contribution to preserving the state's cultural heritage. As a mark of respect, the House observed condolences and suspended proceedings for five minutes.

Congress to Move No-Confidence Motion

The political confrontation is expected to continue on Tuesday when the Congress plans to move a no-confidence motion against the BJP government.

Although the ruling BJP enjoys a clear majority in the Assembly, the Opposition is expected to use the debate to raise issues related to governance, law and order, farmers' concerns and other public matters.

The discussion is likely to witness sharp exchanges between Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and senior Congress leaders during the remaining days of the Monsoon Session.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a batch of petitions on Monday seeking an independent, court-monitored investigation into the alleged embezzlement of donations collected at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya.

The petitions seek the transfer of the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and request a time-bound probe along with a forensic audit of the temple's donation records to examine the alleged financial irregularities.

The matter comes before the apex court at a time when an investigation by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) is already underway into the alleged misappropriation of temple funds.

Petitions Seek Court-Monitored Probe

According to the petitions, the Supreme Court has been urged to direct an independent investigation under judicial supervision to ensure transparency and public confidence in the handling of devotees' donations.

The petitioners have also sought a forensic examination of donation records to verify allegations of financial irregularities and identify any misuse of funds.

The court is expected to consider whether the ongoing investigation is sufficient or whether an independent agency should take over the probe.

Investigation Already Underway

Law enforcement agencies have been investigating the alleged theft and misuse of donations collected by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

So far, eight people have been arrested in connection with the case. Authorities are continuing to investigate the alleged diversion and misappropriation of temple funds, while collecting financial and documentary evidence.

The ongoing SIT inquiry remains active as investigators examine the flow of donations and related financial transactions.

Administrative Changes in Temple Trust

The controversy has also led to significant organisational changes within the temple trust.

The trust recently accepted the resignations of General Secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra. An interim secretary has been appointed, while the process to select a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) has also been initiated.

These changes come amid efforts to strengthen administrative oversight as the investigation continues.

Political and Religious Reactions

The allegations have triggered widespread political debate and attracted attention from religious organisations across the country.

Several opposition leaders have demanded an independent investigation into the alleged financial irregularities, arguing that the matter requires complete transparency due to the public nature of the donations.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), however, has expressed confidence in the ongoing SIT investigation while stressing the need for accountability in managing funds contributed by devotees.

Court's Decision Awaited

The Supreme Court's hearing is expected to determine whether the existing SIT investigation should continue independently or whether additional judicial oversight or a CBI-led probe is warranted.

The outcome could influence the future course of the investigation and clarify the extent of judicial supervision over the alleged financial irregularities involving one of the country's most prominent religious institutions.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Minister accused the Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP) of pursuing what he described as policies that hurt religious sentiments. Referring to a past controversy associated with Hanumangarhi, Yogi Adityanath alleged that opposition parties had committed a “mistake” by allowing actions that, according to him, were inappropriate for a major Hindu religious site.

During his address, the Chief Minister questioned what he called the selective approach of some political parties on religious issues. He asked whether practices associated with one faith would be accepted inside places of worship belonging to another religion, arguing that the same standards should apply in all cases.

The remarks came amid continuing political debate over religious sites, temple administration and issues connected to Ayodhya. The city has remained at the centre of national political discourse since the inauguration of the Ram Temple and continues to witness frequent exchanges between ruling and opposition parties over matters related to faith, heritage and governance.

Without naming specific leaders, Yogi Adityanath said certain political groups had historically engaged in what he described as appeasement politics. He asserted that his government was committed to protecting religious traditions while ensuring development and infrastructure growth in major pilgrimage centres across Uttar Pradesh.

The Chief Minister also highlighted the transformation of Ayodhya in recent years, pointing to investments in roads, tourism facilities, transportation networks and public infrastructure. According to him, the city's development reflects a broader effort to promote religious tourism and strengthen cultural heritage.

Opposition parties have repeatedly rejected similar allegations in the past, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of raising religious issues for political purposes. Leaders from Congress and the Samajwadi Party have maintained that they respect all faiths and have accused the ruling party of attempting to polarise public debate.

Political observers note that religious and cultural issues are likely to remain prominent in Uttar Pradesh politics, particularly as parties continue to position themselves ahead of future electoral contests. Statements relating to Ayodhya, temples and religious identity often attract significant public and political attention due to their wider symbolic importance.

The latest remarks by the Chief Minister are expected to trigger fresh reactions from opposition leaders, adding another chapter to the ongoing political contest over religion, governance and public perception in the state.

Speaking while responding to questions related to the alleged Ram Temple donation controversy, Singh said his new mission would be to safeguard faith and religious values. He maintained that his campaign would not be politically motivated and would continue for the rest of his life.

"I understand Sanatan Dharma, and I also understand the BJP, VHP and RSS. My mission now is to protect religion. I will not do politics anymore. I want to work for the protection of faith till my last breath," Singh said while addressing the media.

The veteran Congress leader said he has turned 80 and believes it is time for a new generation to take up larger political responsibilities. Reflecting on his political journey, Singh said the Congress party had given him multiple opportunities to serve the public, including five terms as an MLA, two terms in the Lok Sabha and two terms in the Rajya Sabha.

According to Singh, he had already informed the Congress leadership that he did not wish to seek another parliamentary term and preferred that younger leaders be given the opportunity to move forward.

His latest remarks come ahead of a proposed "accountability yatra" from Ujjain to Ayodhya, which he has described as a non-political march aimed at raising questions over the alleged handling of Ram Temple donations. Singh has repeatedly said the march will not carry party flags and will focus on issues related to faith and accountability rather than electoral politics.

The Congress veteran has remained active in public life despite earlier speculation over his political future. Earlier this year, he clarified that while he did not want another Rajya Sabha term, he was not retiring from public life or from the Congress party. His latest statement signals a shift away from active electoral politics while continuing public engagement through religious and social issues.

Singh has been one of the Congress party's most prominent leaders in Madhya Pradesh, serving as Chief Minister from 1993 to 2003 and later representing the state in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Over the years, he has remained an influential voice on political, constitutional and social issues.

Further details regarding the proposed religious outreach programme and its schedule are awaited.

The controversy over alleged donation irregularities at the Ram Temple took a new turn on Saturday after temple authorities formally requested Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to order a Special Investigation Team probe. The demand comes as investigators recovered ₹10 lakh in cash from the residence of a temple employee who had allegedly concealed the money beneath a pile of cow dung.

Lavkush Mishra, a 27-year-old employee responsible for counting donation offerings at the shrine, is now under the scanner. A search team visited his residence in Minapur Thakuran Phagauli village, Rudauli area, where they found the stash hidden inside cupboards, boxes, and partially buried under dried cow dung.

Cow Dung Discovery

The search party comprised six individuals, including two in police uniform and four in plain clothes, according to village residents. Mishra's father, Bacchulal, confirmed the recovery but stopped short of claiming ownership of the cash.

"What had to happen has now happened. During the search, ₹10 lakh was recovered," the father told reporters. He added that a house being constructed in Faizabad had no connection to his son, claiming he had mortgaged 10-12 bighas of farmland to fund that project.

From Mechanic to Temple Employee

Villagers recall that Mishra, who previously worked as a car mechanic, experienced a sharp improvement in his financial situation after joining the temple four to five months ago. Locals said he would spend generously during village visits—on one occasion reportedly treating fellow villagers with ₹50,000 worth of liquor.

Mishra married eight years ago and has two children—a six-year-old son and a two-year-old daughter. His father works at the iron market in Ghaziabad.

Trust Moves Fast

Nripendra Mishra, chairman of the temple's construction committee, arrived in Ayodhya on Saturday for the second time within five days. When questioned by reporters about whether the donation controversy would feature in discussions, he deflected, stating his responsibility remained overseeing construction progress.

Sources familiar with the matter said the trust's letter to the chief minister seeks a thorough investigation into the alleged theft of offerings, which some claims have pegged at around ₹7 crore. The exact scale remains unverified.

Old Complaints Surface

The row gained traction after Mahipal Singh, who claims to have served as the temple's accounts in-charge, alleged that theft of offerings was routine. He said he was removed from his post the day after reporting irregularities to trust general secretary Champat Rai.

Singh also claimed that eight-month-old CCTV footage was deleted and that no proper records existed for gold, silver, and jewellery received as offerings. His assertions have found support from some saints and seers in Ayodhya, who are now demanding a probe.

Political Fallout

Opposition leaders have seized on the developments. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav questioned why private companies were involved in counting temple offerings and why CCTV footage remains unavailable. Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak hit back, accusing Yadav of spreading rumours and disrespecting Supreme Court verdicts.

The recovered cash has been sent for examination, though officials have yet to determine whether it originated from temple donations. Meanwhile, the trust has not issued any formal statement on Mishra's employment status.