BJP slams Congress over Ram Temple Trust CEO remarks, cites 'army insult' pattern
Synopsis
A retired Air Marshal's appointment as Ram Temple Trust CEO has ignited a political storm. Congress leader Rashid Alvi's suggestion of a link to Operation Sindoor drew a fierce BJP broadside — with the ruling party invoking 'Dimagi Naxal', surgical strikes, and contested medieval history in one press conference.
Key Takeaways
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust appointed retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra as its first CEO .
Congress leader Rashid Alvi questioned the appointment, claiming a 'hidden truth' linking Mishra's role in Operation Sindoor to his selection.
BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi called Alvi's remarks 'shameful' and accused Congress of a pattern of insulting the Indian Armed Forces .
Trivedi cited past Congress statements on surgical strikes and alleged a Congress leader once called the Army Chief a 'Sadak chap Gunda' .
The CEO's responsibilities include temple management, security, devotee facilities, and financial oversight of the Ram Temple.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday, 3 September launched a sharp political offensive against Congress leader Rashid Alvi after he questioned the appointment of retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra as the first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The BJP accused Alvi of insulting the Indian Armed Forces and said the remarks had exposed what it described as the Congress party's 'Dimagi Naxal' mindset.
What Alvi Said
Alvi had questioned the decision to appoint the former senior Air Force officer to the Ram Temple Trust's top administrative post. He claimed there appeared to be a 'hidden truth' behind Operation Sindoor, suggesting that Mishra's role in the military operation was linked to his selection as CEO. The remarks triggered an immediate and forceful response from the ruling party.
BJP's Counterattack
Sudhanshu Trivedi, BJP national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP, reacted sharply while speaking to reporters in Lucknow. He said: 'Congress leader Rashid Alvi's shameful statement regarding the appointment of former Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra as the CEO of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has exposed the true nature of the Congress' 'Dimagi Naxal' before the world. It has now been proven that insulting the army is the true identity of the 'Dimagi Naxal' Congress.'
Trivedi broadened his attack to include the Congress party's past statements on Lord Ram, Ayodhya, and Indian military operations, including surgical strikes. He alleged that a Congress leader, Sandeep Dikshit, had once referred to the Indian Army Chief as a 'Sadak chap Gunda' — a charge the party has previously denied in public discourse.
Historical Claims and the Ghazni Reference
Trivedi also responded to what he described as Alvi's claims regarding the historical purpose of Mahmud Ghazni's invasion of India. The BJP spokesperson said: 'I want to make it clear that Ghazni, Ghori and Babur did not come to loot temples. This is left-wing nonsense that urban Naxals and 'dimagi Naxal' people want to spread. They came to destroy temples and break idols,' citing what he described as historical records from the period. These are contested historical interpretations and are presented here as Trivedi's stated position.
About the Trust Appointment
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust had appointed Air Marshal Mishra (retd) as its CEO a day before the controversy erupted. According to the Trust, the newly appointed CEO has been entrusted with key responsibilities covering temple management, security, staff administration, devotee facilities, financial management, and coordination across departments and agencies. Mishra served in senior military positions during his career before retirement.
Political Fallout
The episode marks the latest flashpoint in the ongoing political rivalry between the BJP and Congress over issues of national security, religious institutions, and the legacy of the Ayodhya Ram Temple. This is not the first time the BJP has accused the Congress of undermining the armed forces — similar charges were levelled after the surgical strikes of 2016 and during the Balakot airstrike controversy in 2019. The appointment of a retired military officer to a high-profile civilian religious post is likely to remain a point of political debate in the days ahead.
Point of View
Military honour, and historical revisionism into a single attack line. What is notable is that the Congress has not yet formally distanced itself from Alvi's comments, leaving the party exposed on a question that touches both national security sentiment and Hindu religious identity. The 'Dimagi Naxal' framing, a term Trivedi has deployed repeatedly, signals that the BJP intends to use this episode as a long-running electoral narrative rather than a one-day controversy. Whether Alvi's original claim about Operation Sindoor holds any evidentiary basis remains entirely unaddressed in the political noise.
NationPress
3 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra and why was he appointed Ram Temple Trust CEO?
Retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra is a former senior Indian Air Force officer who has been appointed as the first Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. His responsibilities include temple management, security, staff administration, devotee facilities, financial management, and inter-departmental coordination.
What did Congress leader Rashid Alvi say about the appointment?
Alvi questioned the decision to appoint a retired military officer to the Trust's top post and claimed there was a 'hidden truth' behind Operation Sindoor, suggesting Mishra's role in the military operation was connected to his selection as CEO. The BJP has strongly rejected this claim.
How did the BJP respond to Alvi's remarks?
BJP national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi called Alvi's statement 'shameful' and accused the Congress of insulting the Indian Armed Forces. He described the remarks as evidence of the party's 'Dimagi Naxal' mindset and linked them to past Congress statements on surgical strikes and Ayodhya.
What is the 'Dimagi Naxal' charge the BJP has levelled at Congress?
'Dimagi Naxal' is a term used by BJP leaders, including Trivedi, to describe what they allege is an ideologically driven anti-establishment and anti-military worldview within the Congress. The BJP has used the phrase repeatedly to frame Congress criticism of military operations and religious institutions as politically motivated.
What are the key responsibilities of the Ram Temple Trust CEO?
According to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, the CEO is responsible for overall temple management, security arrangements, staff administration, facilities for devotees, financial management, and coordination among different departments and agencies involved in the temple's functioning.
