Ram Mandir donation theft exposes internal divisions within Sangh

The alleged theft of donations at the Ram Mandir has not only triggered a major political controversy and embarrassed the ruling BJP but has also exposed internal tensions within the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

A day after the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust lodged an FIR over alleged irregularities in temple donations, following a preliminary Special Investigation Team (SIT) report that uncovered “serious lapses” in the handling of cash offerings, the buzz was that the Trust’s General Secretary, Champat Rai, has offered to resign.

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A senior RSS leader, when contacted, however, said that if Champat Rai had to step down, “it should have happened much earlier”.

He also admitted that the RSS leadership was “deeply distressed” because the disturbing issue strikes at the heart of its decades-long cultural project.

The Uttar Pradesh Police has arrested eight individuals accused of siphoning off temple donations. They include staff directly responsible for counting and handling cash. Among them is Ramashankar Yadav, alias Tinnu, Champat Rai’s personal driver and close aide. Now, not just the opposition leaders, many within the Sangh also believe that the involvement of such a close associate warranted Champat Rai’s accountability as well.

The controversy has highlighted internal differences within the Sangh, with Champat Rai being a veteran RSS pracharak. Most of the low-profile temple staff arrested or under investigation are believed to be RSS sympathisers or workers, fuelling criticism that the organisation failed to adequately supervise its own functionaries.

Initially, Champat Rai and other Trust officials dismissed reports of financial irregularities as unverified rumours.

The RSS is the parent organisation for both the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the BJP. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, constituted by the Centre in February 2020 following a Supreme Court directive, manages the Ram Mandir and its assets.

VHP vice president Champat Rai has served as the Trust’s general secretary since its inception.

According to reports, an internal audit conducted as early as 2020 had flagged “highly unprofessional” financial practices. Critics argue that the Trust’s failure to address these vulnerabilities over the past six years created the conditions for the alleged multi-crore embezzlement.

The initial response from sections of the VHP and the Trust was to dismiss the allegations as politically motivated. “It was only after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath adopted an uncompromising stance that the matter was pursued aggressively,” the RSS leader said.

Then in a rare departure from the Sangh’s tradition of presenting a united front, senior VHP leaders publicly expressed anguish over the episode. VHP working president Alok Kumar acknowledged that the incident had deeply hurt Hindu sentiments. While the Sangh has consistently argued that Hindu temples should remain free from government control, the Trust’s alleged failure to prevent financial misconduct has also reignited debate over temples’ autonomy.

Opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh stepped up their attack on the BJP government, with Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai questioning the SIT findings and police action against lower officials. “In BJP rule, this is the spectacle of injustice you will see. It seems the SIT was handed a report in advance, and the investigation conducted accordingly—meaning the conclusion was drawn first,” Yadav said.