Published Jul 03, 2026 | 3:49 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 03, 2026 | 3:49 PM
RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale. (X)
Synopsis: RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale has called for strict punishment for those found guilty in the alleged theft from donation boxes at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and urged the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust to reform its financial management and administration. His statement comes weeks after allegations of embezzlement of temple funds and theft of devotees’ offerings. Hosabale also claimed that “anti-Hindu and anti-national forces” were seeking to exploit the controversy and urged “Hindu society” to remain patient.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale on Friday, 3 July, called for stringent punishment for those found guilty in the alleged theft from donation boxes at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and urged the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust to address shortcomings in its financial management and administrative systems.
The statement comes weeks after allegations of embezzlement of temple funds and theft of devotees’ offerings first emerged in June, prompting the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT).
In the statement, Hosabale said the alleged theft from donation boxes at the temple had “deeply hurt the sentiments and faith of the entire society and Ram devotees.”
“The unfortunate incident of theft in the donation boxes kept at the Shri Ram Lala Temple in Ayodhya has deeply hurt the sentiments and faith of entire society and Ram devotees. We are all extremely pained and angered by this event,” he said.
“It is essential to ensure that anyone found guilty after the investigation faces severe punishment.”
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Hosabale also called on the Trust to treat the episode as an extraordinary matter and undertake institutional reforms.
“It is natural for the entire Hindu society, including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, to expect the trust to treat this highly condemnable incident as an extraordinary matter and take effective steps to rectify all shortcomings in temple management and operations. This is crucial to ensure that the faith and reverence of crores of Ram devotees in the Ayodhya temple remain unbroken and steadfast,” he added.
The Sangh leader said “the current state of confusion and uncertainty must end” and called on the temple management and the government-appointed SIT to take “all necessary initiatives”.
“We are confident that through proper financial management, flawless and transparent operational systems, and an atmosphere imbued with purity, sanctity, and true dharmikta, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust will continue to strengthen the faith and trust of the Hindu society,” he said.
Hosabale also claimed that “anti-Hindu and anti-national forces” were attempting to exploit the controversy to malign Hindu society and the faith. He called upon “the entire Hindu society” to display necessary patience and restraint during this difficult moment.
