Ram Temple chief questions construction quality, claims 'water leaking' after first rain

Acharya Satyendra Das, who is the chief priest of Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, has raised doubts over the construction quality of the new structure within 6 months of the grand inauguration.

Speaking to PTI news agency on the 24th of June, Das claimed that ever since rainfall started, water has been leaking from the roof and there is no proper way to drain it out. He said that if the rain intensifies, it would be difficult to offer prayers.

He has also demanded a proper investigation of the construction of the Ram Mandir, saying that the water began leaking after the first rain where the Ram Lalla idol has been enshrined.

"It is very surprising. So many engineers are here and the Pran Pratishtha was held on January 22, but water is leaking from the roof. Nobody would've thought this," Das said.

The chief priest further raised doubts on the completion of the construction of the temple. Though the date for the completion of the construction of the Ram Temple is 2025, he believes that completing it within the given time might be difficult.

Acharya Satyendra Das further said that it is 2024 now, and 2025 is just a year away, and thus, it is not very likely that the construction work will be completed within a year. Currently, construction work is underway to build designated places for idols of other Gods as well.

Meanwhile, rains on Saturday night caused severe waterlogging on the Rampath road and its adjoining lanes. While sewer water entered houses in the area, the Rampath road and other newly constructed roads in Ayodhya caved in at some places.

There was waterlogging from Jalwanpura to Hanumangarhi Bhaktipath and from Tedhi Bazaar to the inner areas, locals said.

Reacting to the sewer water entering houses in the lanes of Rampath during the rain, Ayodhya Mayor Girish Pati Tripathi said, "I have started damage control since morning. I have deployed several teams of the municipality to remove water from the houses." However, attempts to seek the response of top officials of the Public Works Department (PWD) did not fructify.

Meanwhile, the Congress accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of indulging in corruption in the temple construction and building of civic facilities in the temple town.

"Be it the coffin of the martyrs or the temple of God, all these have become opportunities for corruption for the BJP. Even the symbols of faith and purity in the country are just opportunities of loot for them," Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai alleged in a statement on Monday.

"It has become clear from the statement of chief priest Satyendra Das that water is leaking in the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram temple built at a cost of crores due to the first rain and there is no proper drainage system," he said, Rai said, "Not only this, the mask of the BJP, which was beating the drum of development of Ayodhya, has come off with the road collapsing at many places on the Rampath built at a cost of Rs 624 crore." He alleged that the BJP has made Ayodhya a "hub of corruption by getting second-rate construction done in a hurry only to gain electoral benefits".

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