New Delhi, 3 July 

RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale on Friday said the alleged embezzlement of Ram temple donations has “deeply hurt” the faith of Ram devotees and all of society, and the SIT must ensure the guilty face severe punishment.

"We are all extremely pained and angered by this event," the RSS second-in-command posted on X. It is the organisation's first response to the alleged theft of funds.

Asserting that "anti-Hindu and anti-national forces" are seeking to malign Hindu dharma by exploiting the "unfortunate incident", Hosabale called on all Hindus to display necessary patience and restraint to thwart such "conspiracies".

It is natural for all of 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, he added.

This, Hosabale stressed, is crucial to ensure that the faith and reverence of crores of Ram devotees in the Ayodhya temple remain unbroken and steadfast.

He noted that the Uttar Pradesh government constituted a Special Investigation Team and initiated legal proceedings based on its recommendations "at the earnest request" of the Trust.

It is essential to ensure that anyone found guilty after the investigation faces severe punishment, he said, emphasising that the current "state of confusion and uncertainty" must end.

"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 Hindu society," he said.