Allegations of corruption in the collection of donations for the Ram Temple are rattling the city of Ayodhya. Amid these allegations of a donation scam linked to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, footfall of devotees in the spiritually renowned city of Ayodhya has dropped significantly. Local residents are expressing distress, saying that this is hurting the livelihoods of local traders.
Locals say that earlier, between one lakh and one-and-a-half lakh devotees used to visit daily, but after the controversy, that number has fallen to 60,000-70,000. The income of vendors selling flowers, sandalwood, and prasadam along the Ram Path has dropped sharply. Traders who previously earned Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 5,000 a day are now struggling to make even Rs. 1,000. Arun Agarwal, a representative of the Ayodhya Hotel Association, said hotel room occupancy has fallen to 25 percent. Since most of the devotees currently visiting are from local areas, businesses aren’t benefiting much. Saints and mahants in Ayodhya have expressed differing opinions on the controversy — some view it as an administrative failure and an attempt to undermine devotees’ faith, while others argue it is the fault of lower-level employees and that the Trust has no connection to it. Some are demanding that the Trust be dissolved and a new committee formed with Ayodhya’s saints, while others are demanding representation for the Shankaracharyas in it.
With Uttar Pradesh’s assembly elections due in another nine months, this controversy has sparked major political debate. Since the construction of the Ram Temple is a key agenda item for the BJP, these allegations have become a strong weapon for the opposition. As part of damage-control measures, the BJP and RSS have stepped in, telling the public that action has already been taken against the guilty and that an investigation is underway. CM Yogi Adityanath has promised strict action against the guilty, while the Samajwadi Party has warned that it will raise the issue in Parliament. It is reported that the BJP leadership fears political damage if elections are held before the controversy dies down.