Invitations sent to all 14 trustees ahead of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust meeting: Temple admn assistant Gopal Rao

Ayodhya , Uttar Pradesh: Ahead of the meeting of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust scheduled to be held on Monday at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple complex, invitations have been sent to all 14 trustees, temple administration assistant Gopal Rao said. Speaking to Media, Rao said the meeting will be held at the temple complex.

"A meeting of the trust will be held at the temple complex today. Invitations have been sent to all 14 trustees. I expect everyone has been invited," he said.Earlier, Rao said, "The meeting will be held inside the temple premises. Mahant Nritya Gopal Das ji will preside over it."

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust comprises of 14 trustees including, Trust President Nritya Gopal Das, Vasudevanand Saraswati, Vishwaprasannatirth, Parmanand Giri, Treasurer Govind Dev Giri, Krishna Mohan, Dinendra Das, Prashant Lokhande, Sanjay Prasad, Shashank Tripathi, Nripendra Mishra and K. Parasaran.

Trustees Champat Rai and Anil Mishra have already resigned from the Trust on the grounds of moral responsibility for the alleged misappropriation of temple donations. The meeting comes amid the ongoing controversy over the alleged embezzlement of temple donations as the issue has triggered a sharp political confrontation, with Opposition parties demanding a probe while the BJP accuses them of targeting the Hindu faith.

Temple administration assistant Gopal Rao said the meeting would take place at 3 pm inside the temple premises and that all members had been informed. "The trust meeting will take place at 3 PM within the temple complex. Everyone has been notified; we expect everyone to attend," he said.

Meanwhile, ahead of the key meeting of the temple Trust, Krishna Mohan, trustee of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirtha Kshetra Trust, and VHP Central Secretary Rajendra Singh 'Pankaj' reached Vaidehi Bhawan in Ayodhya, where Govind Devgiri Maharaj is staying.

Separately, the investigation into the alleged donation theft has progressed. Police sources said the Ayodhya Police have obtained court permission to question five of the eight accused currently lodged in jail. The accused, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Ram Shankar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey and Manish Yadav, will be questioned inside the jail, and their statements will be formally recorded.

The Ayodhya Sant Mandal has also extended its support to Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust General Secretary Champat Rai and urged the Trust not to accept his resignation.