The reported theft of donations in Ayodhya Ram Mandir is a breach of public trust. Temples, especially those built and sustained through the faith and contributions of millions, are custodians of both spiritual belief and financial responsibility. Any misappropriation of donations strikes at that foundation. Donations made by devotees are acts of faith, often given with the expectation that they will support religious, charitable, and community purposes. When such funds are mismanaged, the damage goes beyond monetary loss and it undermines confidence in the institution itself. The Ayodhya Ram Mandir has long stood as one of the three ideological pillars of the BJP, alongside the abrogation of Article 370 and the push for a Uniform Civil Code. For the party and PM Modi, the temple has been projected not just as a symbol of faith fulfilled, but also of governance rooted in discipline and accountability. A government that claims the high moral standard that demands accountability from all, cannot wish away when the reckoning comes to its own doorstep. The investigation must follow the evidence wherever it leads, without fear or favour.
GREGORY FERNANDES, Mumbai
