BJP slams Congress for questioning Air Marshal Mishra's Ram Temple CEO appointment
Synopsis
The BJP has turned a temple administration appointment into a full-blown political battle, accusing Congress of 'anti-Army' bias for questioning why an Operation Sindoor commander is now running the Ram Temple. With BJP framing military credentials as a national virtue and Congress raising governance questions, the Ayodhya temple is now firmly in the crossfire of India's culture-war politics.
Key Takeaways
Air Marshal (Retd) Jeetendra Mishra , who commanded forces during Operation Sindoor , was appointed the first CEO of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya .
Congress questioned the rationale of appointing a military veteran to manage a religious institution, with some linking the move to a donation controversy at the temple.
BJP National Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari called Congress's objections a sign of the party's 'anti-Army' mindset, drawing a parallel with past remarks against General Bipin Rawat .
Bhandari also alleged that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and his wife are linked to an extortion and corruption racket, presenting purported audio evidence.
The BJP framed the appointment as a reflection of the Narendra Modi government's respect for the Armed Forces.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday, 3 September launched a sharp attack on the Indian National Congress over its criticism of the appointment of Air Marshal (Retd) Jeetendra Mishra as the first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, calling the opposition's objections a direct reflection of an 'anti-Army' mindset. The BJP's broadside came after Congress leaders publicly questioned the rationale behind placing a military veteran at the helm of a religious institution.
The Appointment and the Controversy
Air Marshal (Retd) Jeetendra Mishra, a former senior officer of the Indian Air Force who commanded forces during Operation Sindoor, was named as the Ram Temple's inaugural CEO. While the BJP and the saints community welcomed the appointment, Congress leaders questioned the purpose of bringing an Armed Forces veteran into the management of religious affairs at the Ayodhya temple. Some critics also suggested the move was intended to deflect attention from an ongoing controversy over alleged theft and donation irregularities at the shrine.
What the BJP Said
BJP National Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari, addressing the media at the party's headquarters in New Delhi, dismissed Congress's objections as 'baseless insinuations' and accused the party of harbouring deep contempt for the Armed Forces. 'I am surprised to see how both Congress and Pakistan have been deprived of sleep ever since India delivered a befitting response to Pakistani terrorism through Operation Sindoor, particularly since the time our soldiers and forces struck deep inside Pakistani territory,' Bhandari said.
He further recalled that some Congress leaders had previously referred to the then Army Chief General Bipin Rawat as a 'street goon', arguing that the party's attitude toward the military had not changed. 'This reinforces the nation's deep-rooted respect for the forces under the Narendra Modi-led government but the Congress won't understand this,' he added.
BJP Frames Appointment as a National Honour
The BJP argued that entrusting the Ram Temple's administration to a veteran who led operations during Operation Sindoor was a matter of 'great joy and happiness' for every nationalist Indian. The party positioned the appointment as a symbol of the Modi government's reverence for the Armed Forces, contrasting it with what it described as the Congress's historical disdain for military figures.
Notably, this is not the first time the BJP has accused the Congress of being hostile to the military establishment. The pattern of invoking Armed Forces credentials in political disputes has intensified since Operation Sindoor, which the ruling party has repeatedly cited as a defining moment of national resolve.
Punjab Corruption Allegations Also Raised
During the same press conference, Bhandari levelled serious allegations against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, accusing Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and his wife of allegedly running an institutionalised extortion and corruption network through intermediaries. He claimed that Mann faces allegations of operating a racket, while his wife is accused of using middlemen to settle a legitimate rape case in exchange for ₹5 crore. Bhandari said he presented audio recordings to corroborate these charges. The AAP government had not responded to these allegations at the time of reporting.
Point of View
The party sidesteps the substantive issue — whether a military chain-of-command background is the right fit for managing a major religious trust amid active donation controversies. Congress, for its part, handed the BJP an easy target by conflating a legitimate institutional question with broader political insinuations. The real accountability gap — who oversees the Ram Temple Trust's finances and how — remains unaddressed in this exchange.
NationPress
3 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Air Marshal (Retd) Jeetendra Mishra and why was he appointed Ram Temple CEO?
Air Marshal (Retd) Jeetendra Mishra is a former senior Indian Air Force officer who commanded forces during Operation Sindoor. He was appointed as the first Chief Executive Officer of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, a role the BJP has framed as honouring his military service.
Why did Congress object to the Ram Temple CEO appointment?
Congress leaders questioned the rationale of appointing an Armed Forces veteran to manage religious affairs at the Ayodhya temple. Some within the party also suggested the appointment was intended to divert attention from an alleged theft and donation controversy at the shrine.
What did BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari say about Congress?
Bhandari accused Congress of harbouring an 'anti-Army' mindset, calling their objections baseless insinuations. He recalled past Congress remarks against General Bipin Rawat and drew a parallel with the current criticism of Mishra's appointment.
What allegations did the BJP make against the Punjab government?
At the same press conference, Bhandari alleged that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and his wife are linked to an institutionalised extortion network, claiming his wife used middlemen to settle a rape case for ₹5 crore. He said audio recordings were presented to support the charges. The AAP government had not responded at the time of reporting.
What is Operation Sindoor and why is it relevant here?
Operation Sindoor was a military operation in which Indian Army and Air Force units reportedly struck targets deep inside Pakistani territory in response to cross-border terrorism. The BJP has repeatedly cited it as a landmark moment, and Air Marshal Mishra's role in commanding forces during the operation is central to the party's defence of his temple appointment.
