VHP chief Alok Kumar backs Champat Rai, hits back at opposition over resignation calls
Synopsis
VHP President Alok Kumar has gone on the offensive over the Ram Temple donation controversy — defending Champat Rai's voluntary resignation as a mark of integrity while accusing Congress and AAP leaders of hypocrisy, citing Kejriwal's jail-time governance and the Bofors scandal. With an SIT probe under way and Rs 80 lakh already recovered, the battle has shifted from temple administration to political point-scoring.
Key Takeaways
VHP President Alok Kumar on 29 June defended Champat Rai , who resigned as General Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust citing moral responsibility.
Allegations involve pilfering of devotee offerings — including cash, ornaments, and silver bricks — at the Ram Temple, Ayodhya .
The Trust says it recovered Rs 80 lakh through a preliminary enquiry and named eight individuals in an FIR based on SIT findings.
Trust member Anil Mishra also stepped down alongside Champat Rai to facilitate a fair investigation.
Kumar accused Congress and AAP leaders of double standards, citing Arvind Kejriwal 's refusal to resign during his arrest and the Bofors case involving Rs 64 crore .
Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) President Alok Kumar on Monday, 29 June mounted a strong defence of Champat Rai, former General Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, amid an ongoing controversy over alleged financial irregularities involving donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Kumar simultaneously trained his fire on opposition leaders demanding Rai's resignation, accusing them of applying double standards.
Background: What Triggered the Controversy
Champat Rai stepped down from his post earlier this week, citing moral responsibility, after allegations emerged regarding the pilfering of offerings — including cash, ornaments, and silver bricks — made by devotees at the Ram Temple. The resignation came as political parties called for accountability over the reported misappropriation of temple donations.
Four Steps the Trust Says It Took
Addressing the controversy, Kumar outlined what he described as four immediate measures initiated by the Trust after the allegations surfaced. 'When this incident came to light, the trustees conducted a preliminary enquiry, identified the guilty parties, and recovered Rs 80 lakh. Immediately following this preliminary probe, I personally visited Ayodhya; Champat ji himself stepped forward, stating, ‘I am the General Secretary; the truth must come out, you may interrogate me first,’' Kumar said.
He added that after receiving preliminary findings from the Special Investigation Team (SIT), the Trust filed a case without delay. 'The eight individuals identified by the SIT were named in the FIR, with a provision for ‘others’ included in the ninth column; furthermore, the trustees formally requested a comprehensive investigation into the entire matter and all allegations,' he stated.
On concerns that Rai's continued presence could influence the probe, Kumar said both Champat Rai and Trust member Anil Mishra voluntarily stepped aside. 'Both Champat ji and Anil Mishra immediately offered their resignations to pave the way for a swift enquiry,' he said, calling the four steps evidence of the trustees' commitment to transparency.
VHP Turns the Tables on Opposition
Kumar then pivoted to a pointed counter-attack on political leaders who had demanded Rai's resignation. He cited the case of former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, arguing that Kejriwal had insisted on continuing as Chief Minister even after his arrest, with his bail application subsequently rejected. 'People expected him to resign, yet he insisted on continuing his duties as Chief Minister from within the jail,' Kumar claimed.
He also referenced the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha cash-for-votes scandal during the tenure of former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, alleging that no resignations were sought at the time. Kumar further invoked the Bofors case, alleging that top politicians including Rajiv Gandhi faced allegations involving Rs 64 crore but did not step down. 'This is the difference in the conduct between Champat ji and the senior leaders of the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP),' he said.
What the Trust Says About Its Transparency Commitment
Kumar maintained that the actions of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust clearly demonstrated its commitment to 'a transparent, impartial and time-bound investigation.' He asserted it had 'become self-evident that the trustees of the Ram Janmabhoomi Trust are keen on and actively making arrangements for a thorough and speedy investigation into the events that took place in Ayodhya.'
The SIT probe is ongoing. How its findings are handled — and whether independent oversight is established — will determine whether the Trust's stated commitment to accountability translates into verified outcomes.
Point of View
The Trust's transparency narrative will be difficult to sustain.
NationPress
29 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Champat Rai resign from the Ram Janmabhoomi Trust?
Champat Rai stepped down as General Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust citing moral responsibility after allegations surfaced about the pilfering of devotee offerings — including cash, ornaments, and silver bricks — at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. He was not charged directly but voluntarily resigned to facilitate a fair investigation.
What is the Ram Temple donation controversy about?
The controversy centres on alleged financial irregularities involving offerings made by devotees at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. A preliminary enquiry by the Trust reportedly identified guilty parties and led to the recovery of Rs 80 lakh, after which an SIT was formed and eight individuals were named in an FIR.
What steps has the Ram Janmabhoomi Trust taken in response?
According to VHP President Alok Kumar, the Trust conducted a preliminary enquiry, recovered Rs 80 lakh, filed an FIR naming eight individuals identified by the SIT, and accepted the resignations of both Champat Rai and Trust member Anil Mishra to ensure an unobstructed probe.
Why is the VHP criticising Congress and AAP over the resignation demands?
VHP chief Alok Kumar argued that opposition leaders demanding Champat Rai's resignation had themselves — or their colleagues — remained in office despite serious allegations in the past. He cited Arvind Kejriwal continuing as Delhi Chief Minister during his arrest and the Bofors case involving Rajiv Gandhi as examples of different standards being applied.
Who is Alok Kumar and what is his role in this controversy?
Alok Kumar is the President of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), a Hindu nationalist organisation. He has emerged as the principal public defender of the Ram Janmabhoomi Trust's handling of the donation controversy, personally visiting Ayodhya after the allegations came to light and articulating the Trust's four-step response to the media.
