Photo: IANS
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said on Friday that chief Uddhav Thackeray is likely to visit the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya soon amid allegations of irregularities in the handling of temple donations.
Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Raut said he had discussed the matter with Thackeray and other party leaders and that Shiv Sena (UBT) representatives would soon travel to Ayodhya to raise the issue, Indian Express reported.
The remarks came after Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav sought a judicial inquiry into allegations that funds amounting to crores of rupees from donations made to the Ram Temple had gone missing. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has denied the allegations.
Raut questioned how doubts could arise over donations made at one of the country’s most prominent religious sites. He said the allegations were serious and demanded clarity from the temple trust on issues being raised about the management of funds.
He pointed out that the Shiv Sena (UBT) had donated Rs 1 crore towards the temple’s construction and said the trust should respond to questions regarding the handling of donations, including concerns over CCTV footage and the silence of trust chairman Nripendra Mishra.
Raut also referred to comments made by former BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, claiming that Singh’s statement suggesting he had knowledge of the matter but could not disclose details due to the involvement of influential people made the controversy more serious.
He further questioned repeated claims about security threats to the temple, asking why concerns were now being raised over CCTV footage if such threats existed. Raut said Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders would visit Ayodhya and raise the issue there.