Gayaji, Sept 5:
Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor has urged the Centre to publish a white paper on alleged financial irregularities in the management of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and fix responsibility for any wrongdoing.
Speaking to reporters in Gayaji, Kishor questioned whether the appointment of Air Marshal (Retd) Jeetendra Mishra as the first CEO of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust would be sufficient to address allegations surrounding the temple administration.
Kishor said merely appointing a new chief executive would not address concerns if those previously responsible for managing the affairs of the trust were allowed to escape accountability.
He said allegations of financial irregularities had hurt the religious sentiments of devotees and called for complete transparency in the handling of the temple’s finances.
The appointment of Mishra comes amid allegations of corruption in the management of the temple, which was constructed following a prolonged legal and political dispute over the Ayodhya site.
Kishor also criticised the Centre over the debate surrounding India’s GDP figures. He argued that official claims of rapid economic growth did not adequately reflect the difficulties faced by large sections of the population.
He said poverty and unemployment remained major concerns and maintained that economic growth should ultimately translate into improved living standards.
The Jan Suraaj founder also ruled out an alliance with mainstream parties such as the Congress and said his party was seeking a fundamental change in Bihar’s political culture. He identified improvement in education as a key priority for the state’s development.