New Delhi, Sep 3: Following the appointment of Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra (Retd.) as the CEO of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, BJP on Thursday welcomed the decision, while some opposition leaders raised concerns over transparency, accountability and alleged irregularities.

BJP spokesperson R.P. Singh congratulated Mishra on his appointment and said that he had played a significant role in Operation Sindoor and secured victory for India.

“Congratulations to Jeetendra Mishra. Jeetendra Mishra ji led Operation Sindoor and secured victory for India. We expect that he will handle this new responsibility in the same manner and also bring transparency here,” he told media.

BJP MLA Ram Kadam said the Ram Mandir is a place of faith and reverence for crores of Hindu devotees and followers of Lord Ram. He said the temple represents the successful culmination of a 500-year-long struggle and wait.

Kadam said, “The Ram Mandir is a place of faith and reverence for crores of Hindu devotees and followers of Lord Ram. It represents the successful culmination of a 500-year-long struggle and wait. Over 6,000 applications were received for the CEO position, and the selection process sought an individual who embodies a blend of faith in Hinduism and patriotism. Mishra, who has been appointed, played a significant role in Operation Sindoor.”

BJP MP Santosh Pandey said, “Certainly, we are proud that such a patriotic and honest person, who dedicated 43 years of his life to serving the motherland, has been appointed. With complete dedication, he boosted the morale of the Army and successfully carried out Operation Sindoor. It was a successful operation, and it was praised globally.”

BJP National Spokesperson Guru Prakash Paswan said the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is an autonomous and independent institution and has its own rules regarding appointments.

“It is a trust, and the trust has its own rules. It is an autonomous and independent institution, and any person can be appointed to the trust. I remember that the late Kameshwar Chaupal from Bihar was also part of that trust,” Paswan said.

BJP West Bengal President Samik Bhattacharya said Mishra would oversee the grand construction of the Ram Temple and ensure that the work is carried out properly.

“Jeetendra Mishra is presenting the grand construction of the Ram Temple before the country and will oversee it properly,” Bhattacharya said.

Chhattisgarh Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal described Mishra’s appointment as a matter of great coincidence and good fortune, highlighting his association with Operation Sindoor and his stature as a capable officer.

“Look, it is a matter of great coincidence and good fortune for all of us that retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra, who was also a part of Operation Sindoor, and such a capable person is being appointed as the CEO of the Ram Temple Trust. He holds a prominent stature not only nationally but also in the global arena,” Jaiswal said.

He further said that Mishra’s appointment would help ensure that such incidents as those witnessed in the past would not occur again.

“I feel that, given the incidents that took place in the past, no one will even be able to think about such incidents occurring again,” he added.

Uttar Pradesh Minister Narendra Kashyap said, “I think the decision of the Trust to appoint Jeetendra Mishra as the CEO is better. Because a person who has played a major role in ‘Operation Sindoor’ is certainly a patriot, a nationalist, and someone who works for the country. So, in my view, handing over the command to such a person is a better decision.”

JD(U) National General Secretary Shyam Rajak also welcomed the appointment, saying that replacing officials when irregularities are reported can be a step towards improving the functioning of an institution.

“When there are irregularities, people are removed, and new individuals are brought in for the better. So, a new CEO has been appointed. He is an honest officer who played a role in Operation Sindoor. A military officer of this caliber has been made the CEO; it is a good move. This should be appreciated, and a close watch should be kept on everything,” Rajak said.

Former BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh said Mishra had performed well during Operation Sindoor but cautioned that the responsibilities of the new position would be different.

“As has been said, he worked during Operation Sindoor and did a good job. But the situation here is different. There are hidden enemies here, so some caution will have to be exercised,” Singh said.

Samajwadi Party MP Ramashankar Rajbhar welcomed Mishra’s appointment, noting that the former Air Marshal is from Bhopatpura village in the Bhatpar Rani Assembly constituency, which falls within his parliamentary constituency.

“Jeetendra Mishra is from Bhopatpura village in the Bhatpar Rani Assembly constituency of my parliamentary constituency, and he has been given a major challenge. I welcome him,” Rajbhar said.

However, he alleged that officers in the state face pressure from the government and said that this would make the CEO’s new responsibility particularly challenging.

“In a state where IAS and IPS officers are unable to work freely, the government puts pressure on them, and officers are resigning due to that pressure; this is a major challenge for the CEO,” he said.

Rajbhar also raised concerns over alleged irregularities surrounding the Ram Temple, saying devotees and saints in Ayodhya had raised concerns, especially the alleged theft of offerings and incidents allegedly being suppressed for months.

“Crores of Hindus across the country and all the saints and seers of Ayodhya who revere Lord Ram have raised concerns… An SIT was formed by the UP government and another at the national level,” he said.

He expressed hope that Mishra would protect the temple’s funds and work independently.

“Now that he has become CEO, I wish him well. May he serve Lord Ram and protect Ram’s funds so that no one can loot them. He can meet this challenge only by refusing to bow to pressure from those in power. Only by removing the pressure that the authorities are under can anyone truly serve Lord Ram, the embodiment of righteousness,” Rajbhar said.

Congress MLA Nana Patole, meanwhile, criticised the appointment and alleged that saints had expressed reservations about the manner in which the Ram Temple’s affairs were being handled.

“Saints have insisted that this work belongs to the saints. Some saints are not even willing to accept it as the Ram Temple; saints have started saying that this has become a site of looting for the BJP and RSS,” Patole said.

He alleged that the government had a responsibility to respect saints and religion, while accusing the BJP and RSS of exploiting people’s faith in the Ram Temple.

“Therefore, respecting saints and religion is the government’s responsibility. However, the RSS and BJP just want to exploit people’s faith in the Ram Temple and loot their money, and the government is protecting them,” he added.