Kathavachak Devkinandan Thakur on Wednesday, 1 July reacted sharply to the reported theft of donations from the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, saying the incident has inflicted deep pain on crores of Hindus and Sanatan followers. He simultaneously renewed his call for the creation of a Sanatan Board to oversee the management of temples and religious affairs across the country.

Thakur on the Theft

'If such an incident has indeed taken place, it has caused pain to nearly 100 crore Hindus and Sanatan followers. We should wait for the investigation to reveal the complete truth,' Thakur said. He urged restraint pending the outcome of the ongoing probe, while making clear that the episode had shaken the faith of millions of devotees who had contributed to the construction and upkeep of the temple.

Thakur added that had a respected religious preceptor been entrusted with the responsibility of managing the temple, such controversies may not have arisen in the first place. He stressed that donations made in the name of Lord Ram must be channelled toward the welfare of the poor, women, hospitals, and other public welfare initiatives — and must not serve the personal interests of individuals associated with any trust.

VHP Chief's Remarks and Thakur's Agreement

Thakur also weighed in on a statement by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) chief Ajay Kumar, who said the organisation does not accept responsibility for recent decisions taken by the Ram Temple trust and that the VHP's role concluded once the construction of the temple was ensured. Thakur said he agreed with those remarks. 'He has worked for both the VHP and Sanatan. I agree with what he has said,' Thakur noted, underscoring that religious and administrative responsibilities need to be clearly delineated.

The Case for a Sanatan Board

Thakur has been a consistent advocate for a Sanatan Board — a statutory body modelled along the lines of the Waqf Board — that would bring all temples across the country under a unified governance framework. He argued that matters related to religion should be handled by religious leaders, while administrative and governance responsibilities should remain with the government and the administration.

'All temples across the country should be brought under the Sanatan Board. If required, any one of the four Shankaracharyas can be entrusted with the responsibility of protecting and preserving Sanatan Dharma,' he said. Notably, the demand for such a board has gained fresh momentum in the wake of the Ayodhya controversy, with several religious leaders echoing the call.

Appeal to the Centre

Appealing directly to the Central government, Thakur said, 'Whatever has happened cannot be changed now, but we must think about how to safeguard what remains.' He expressed faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and urged both Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to take decisions that would protect religion and future generations. He reiterated hope that the Centre would establish a Sanatan Board with powers comparable to those of the Waqf Board.

Thakur also invoked scriptural authority, saying, 'Our scriptures say that whoever harms religion ultimately faces the consequences of their actions. Those who have committed theft are now facing punishment. If you protect religion, religion will protect you.' The incident is likely to keep the spotlight on the governance of the Ram Temple Trust in the weeks ahead, with investigators expected to submit findings soon.