New Delhi, July 3 -- The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) is not responsible for the donation theft at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and it will wait for the investigation in the case to consider taking any action on one of its vice presidents, Champat Rai, who resigned as former general secretary of the temple trust following the SIT probe in the case, said Alok Kumar, international president of the VHP, in an interview with HT. Excerpts: What has happened is very unfortunate. And it has hurt the sentiments of the Hindus across the globe. There is no question of finding any excuses or trying to defend it. All of us are determined that the police and the SIT make a very thorough probe covering all angles and covering all individuals whoever they may be against whom there are any allegations. We would like to get to the bottom of it, including how long this has been happening. There should be no leniency. We are not accountable for it. The day the Supreme Court judgment came, I had clarified that the job of the VHP is over. Construction of the temple and the running of it is not our job. We did not nominate him to that place [post of general secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra]. He does not represent VHP. We are not responsible. Whatever has happened, unfortunate it may be, but the attempts to pin the VHP, the RSS, the prime minister's office, is being done with an eye on the assembly elections next year. I, in my capacity as president of the VHP, issued a four-point statement. One, an FIR should be immediately registered. Two, the matter be investigated by senior and experienced police officers and expeditiously. Three, the matter should then be handled by a fast track court on a daily basis. Four, the guilty should be punished and this whole process should be completed within four to five months. The Hindu samaj would feel some satisfaction when they see the convicted persons going to jail. You want me to dismiss him (Rai) today without the result of the investigation but no one has yet accused Rai for the theft. The allegations as of now are on his driver. The driver has gone to jail. He is being examined. Money has been recovered from him. The law will catch up with him. I'm admitting that he may be guilty of negligence. I'm sure it would not happen. In the content part of the FIR, the trust has requested for a comprehensive investigation not limited to the eight people arrested. It includes all persons, including the person frequently mentioned by you. So whatever be the size of the fish, irrespective of small or big, none would be spared. The VHP has proactively, publicly demanded an investigation which is going on and therefore my view is that we will wait for some time. We shall wait for investigations to reach some conclusions and then consider this matter. Let his role be found out by an appropriate inquiry and then we shall consider it. Yes, I have said that and I'm ready to repeat this. I don't think the Union government at this stage is answerable. It was not their charge. It was the exclusive duty of the trustees and we are defending no one. We are ashamed that this happened. We are sorry for it. It's a matter of a regret and hurt. But if you say that during the very early hours of the investigation we should pronounce a judgment, declare it, name the person and crucify him, (I would), not at this stage. It appears to me that the persons who were on the spot should have exercised much care in the matter, and you are right to that extent, there is negligence in action. This would depend on what happens in the next six months. If the government is able to get a correct, true report, including convicting the guilty persons in a short time, it is possible that the Hindu society takes a positive view of the developments. If appropriate systems are applied, with persons experienced in administration managing them, to ensure that not a single rupee of Bhagwan Ram can be diverted, then I think it would be forgotten as a one-time aberration and we shall win the confidence....