Champat Rai’s article on Nripendra Misra’s role in Ayodhya temple construction sparks controversy

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Former Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust (SRJTKT) general secretary and senior Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Champat Rai , in an article released on August 18, said Ram temple construction committee chairman Nripendra Misra exercised near-complete control over the temple’s construction and “considered himself the principal authority on all decisions”.

In the nine-page Hindi article, shared in the VHP media group, Mr. Rai claimed that no work on the Ram temple was undertaken without Mr. Misra’s approval and that decisions taken without his involvement were rejected.

“Shri Nripendra Misra brought several people of his choice into the temple construction committee to assist him. One of them visited Ayodhya only once or twice during the previous six years, while another was consulted on security-related matters. A third member, Shri Anoop Mittal, former chairman of NBCC, regularly attended the temple construction committee meetings,” Mr. Rai wrote.

He added that the committee’s meetings were generally held every month and, for some time, once every 15 days.

“Every decision was taken by this committee. No work was undertaken without this committee’s decision, and even decisions taken outside it were not accepted; and if something was done, it was removed. Shri Nripendra Misra always considered himself the principal authority for all decisions concerning temple construction,” he wrote.

Following the Supreme Court’s verdict on the Ram Janmabhoomi dispute, the Union government constituted the SRJTKT with 15 trustees. Mr. Rai said Mr. Misra was subsequently appointed chairman of the committee overseeing temple construction and related activities.

While criticising Mr. Misra for being the "sole in-charge" of the construction, Mr. Rai also credited him with playing a key role in overcoming hurdles during the project. “Whenever any obstacle came, he immediately requested the most capable persons in the concerned field in India and called them to Ayodhya,” he wrote.

The article also details the organisational and engineering arrangements for the project. Mr. Rai said Larsen & Toubro was selected as the construction agency and Tata Consulting Engineers was appointed as the project management consultant, both by Mr. Misra, who was informed about the vision of late VHP leader Ashok Singhal, considered the architect and key strategist of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.

“The temple architect, Ahmedabad-based Shri Chandrakant Bhai Sompura, had been selected by the late Ashok Singhal in 1986 and was retained. For the construction of other buildings, Shri Nripendra Mishra selected Noida-based firm Design Associates, headed by Jai Kakadikar,” the article said.

According to Mr. Rai, construction of the temple began in June 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and was completed and dedicated to society by June 2026. He attributed the achievement to Mr. Misra’s efforts.