Lucknow, Sept. 3 -- The appointment of retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra as the first CEO of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has triggered a political controversy, with Opposition leaders questioning the trust's earlier financial management and demanding accountability over an alleged temple donation theft case.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav questioned why employees arrested in the alleged case remained in custody while senior figures were given clean chits following a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe.

"If the big people have got a clean chit, then why are the small employees still in jail? Get them released too," Yadav said in Saharanpur. He alleged that the controversy had hurt devotees' sentiments and questioned the sequence of arrests and subsequent clean chits.

Congress leader Aradhana Mishra said the issue involved offerings made by devotees and questioned the action taken after the SIT investigation. Congress leader Nana Patole also opposed the appointment of a CEO, arguing that the temple administration should be guided by saints and seers.

SP Rajya Sabha MP Ramjilal Suman sought an inquiry by a sitting Supreme Court judge or a joint parliamentary committee, alleging that the SIT had failed to establish accountability.

NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) spokesperson Anish Gawande also questioned Mishra's appointment and raised allegations concerning the trust's previous management. The appointment also drew criticism from religious quarters. Jagatguru Balak Das Devacharya Maharaj of Patalpuri Math in Varanasi said religious institutions should function under the guidance of saints and seers, though administrators could handle operational responsibilities.

Mishra's appointment is intended to strengthen the trust's administration and bring professional management to the temple complex. However, it has sparked a wider debate over accountability, administrative control and the role of traditional religious leadership in managing the temple.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.