‘Resigned due to his moral responsibility’: Sister of slain karsevaks on Champat Rai’s exit

Kolkata, June 26 (IANS) Purnima Kothari, the sister of ‘karsevaks’ Ram Kumar Kothari and Sharad Kothari who were killed in Ayodhya firing in 1990, on Friday said that Ram Mandir trust General Secretary Champat Rai resigned due to his “moral responsibility”. She hailed Rai for his “dedication” towards the Ram Temple movement.

Rai, along with Trust member Anil Mishra stepped down from their positions, days after alleged misappropriation of funds at the Ram Temple stirred a national controversy.

During an interaction with IANS, Purnima Kothari said: “Perhaps he (Rai) has taken this decision while listening to his inner conscience and taking moral responsibility, since he held a very important position in the Trust.”

Kothari said she has known Champat Rai for the past 15 years and keeps visiting him whenever she goes to Ayodhya.

“He (Rai) has dedicated his life to the Ram Mandir. He had taken care of the court case as well. He played a major role in the creation of the Ram Temple, fighting against those who questioned the existence of Lord Ram,” she said.

Kothari added: “Therefore, it pains me when allegations are levied against that person who led his life as a saint. I have seen his passion for the work (towards the Ram Temple). He had led his life through so many struggles, this money is nothing for him.”

She reiterated that allegations should not be levelled against Champat Rai.

Commenting on the alleged donation embezzlement from the Ram Temple, Purnima Kothari claimed: “I think, there is a conspiracy by someone who did not want to see the Ram Mandir. Those who never want to visit the Ram Temple and do not want to donate even a single rupee to it, such people must be involved in some conspiracy to defame the Ram Temple and to reduce people’s faith and devotion. They may have planted their own person inside.”

“Thousands of people visit the temple, and there are thousands of workers. You cannot check every person to see who is a Ram devotee and who is not. Even if a person from another faith goes inside wearing a ‘tika’ and a ‘kalava’, no one is keeping a tab. He will be allowed to enter,” she added.

She asserted full faith in all the office bearers of the Trust. “I have seen their hard work behind winning the court case as well as building the Ram temple,” she said.

Emphasising that the security at the temple is quite strict, Kothari said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath themselves have “kept an eye on the temple”.

“Therefore, they will take action against those found guilty, no one will be spared,” she added.

–IANS

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