Ram temple donation ‘stealing’ is a shame; we feel humiliated: Nripendra Mishra

Ram Mandir Construction Committee Chairman Nripendra Mishra speaks to the media about the progress of the temple construction work in Ayodhya. | Photo credit: ANI

Temple Building Committee Chairman Ram Nripendra Mishra on Saturday (July 11, 2026) said that the alleged endowment theft at the Ayodhya temple was a shameful stain (kalank) and everyone felt completely humiliated by it.

However, he expressed confidence that the management system of the temple would be improved so that such incidents do not recur.

Mr. Mishra arrived in Ayodhya on Friday (July 10, 2026) for the first day of the Ram Temple Construction Committee meeting.

“This (alleged donation theft) is a disgrace and we all not only apologize but feel humiliated and disappointed by it,” Mr Mishra told reporters ahead of the second day of the committee’s meeting.

“This is (now) a temple management issue and the management would certainly improve to prevent this (alleged donation theft) from happening again,” he said.

Mr. Mishra, who was among the first to raise the demand for the appointment of the CEO of the temple trust, said a high-level committee had been set up to suggest a suitable name.

There is speculation that the trust may be open to appointing a woman CEO, but Mr. Mishra did not comment.

“You are aware that the (judge) retired heads the chief executive appointment committee. It will make its recommendations to the trust, which will comment on the matter,” he said.

After accepting the resignations of the temple trust’s general secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra amid the donation theft controversy, the trust will meet again on July 22 to decide on measures to improve the temple’s management system.

Mr. Mishra said he had no idea about the (programme of) the July 22 meeting.

Before starting the second day of the Ayodhya Ram Temple Construction Committee meeting, Mr. Mishra said, “Yesterday I inspected the ongoing construction work. The work on the old temple, which is being prepared as a memorial, is almost complete. The only thing left is the arrangement for the flame, which will burn 24×7.

“The second aspect includes the main memorial construction which should be completed by the end. So the final phase of the temple construction will be completed by July 30.” However, he added that several other projects such as the construction of a 4-kilometer boundary wall and work on an auditorium outside the temple complex may be completed by November-December.

“Besides, there is a Ram Katha Museum which includes 20 galleries. The plot of the museum has been finalized. The final shape regarding the type of video content will be decided in our meetings this time,” he said.

Trust interim general secretary Krishna Mohan also attended the committee meeting on Friday (July 10, 2026).

Published – 11 July 2026 17:30 IST