14 July,2026 10:44 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Uddhav Thackeray. File Pic
The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Tuesday criticised the Centre over the alleged multi-crore donation theft at the Ayodhya Ram Temple, alleging that the investigation into the case lacks credibility and accusing the government of failing to ensure accountability.
In an editorial published in its party mouthpiece Saamana, the Uddhav Thackeray-led party questioned the response of the temple authorities and the Union government while referring to recent remarks made by Ram Temple Construction Committee Chairman Nripendra Mishra.
The editorial referred to Mishra's recent statement in which he described the alleged donation embezzlement as a "blot" that had left everyone feeling deeply insulted.
According to the editorial, Mishra had earlier put the BJP in an uncomfortable position by stating that the firing on Kar Sevaks in Ayodhya during the tenure of former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav was not carried out under a direct government order.
However, the Shiv Sena (UBT) argued that Mishra's expression of regret over the alleged donation theft was inadequate given the seriousness of the allegations.
The editorial claimed that approximately Rs 14,000 crore had been collected over the past 12 to 13 years in the name of the Ram Temple project and alleged that there had been no public accountability regarding the funds.
The editorial further alleged that the donation theft amounted to at least Rs 500 crore and claimed that gold, silver and jewellery offered at the temple were also missing.
"If valuable offerings made to Lord Ram have been stolen, the temple trust's treasurer and board of trustees should have been the first to face criminal charges. Instead, Mishra merely let out a whimper of regret."
The party alleged that responsibility should extend beyond those directly arrested and questioned why senior members associated with the temple administration had not faced action.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) claimed that the alleged theft had hurt the sentiments of devotees and affected religious tourism in Ayodhya.
According to the editorial, the controversy has resulted in a sharp decline in the number of pilgrims visiting the temple. It claimed that footfall had dropped by nearly 75 per cent, reducing waiting times for devotees from around four hours to between 30 and 45 minutes.
The editorial also claimed that the reduced number of visitors had affected the local economy.
"Darshan waiting times have been reduced from four hours down to just 30-45 minutes due to thinning crowds. Hotel occupancy has plummeted to just 25 per cent, causing severe anxiety among investors who are building a hundred new hotels in the area. Street vendors selling garlands and prasad, who previously earned Rs 4,000-Rs 5,000 daily, are now struggling to make even Rs 1,000. E-rickshaw drivers and local restaurants have witnessed a massive drop in daily business, severely damaging the town's religious tourism ecosystem,'' said the editorial.
The editorial also questioned why Prime Minister Narendra Modi had not publicly commented on the alleged donation theft, noting that he and BJP leaders had played a prominent role during the temple's inauguration and consecration ceremony.
It further expressed disappointment that the issue was not mentioned during the Prime Minister's Mann Ki Baat radio programme and alleged that the government had failed to acknowledge public concerns surrounding the case.
Concluding its editorial, the Shiv Sena (UBT) alleged that the ongoing police investigation and arrests were merely a "cover-up" rather than a genuine effort to uncover the truth behind the alleged theft.
The party also alleged that by protecting what it described as the "main thieves" associated with the temple administration, the credibility of the BJP and the Sangh Parivar had been damaged.
