You want controversy: Nripendra Misra to media on alleged Champat Rai letter

Ram temple construction committee chairman Nripendra Misra on Friday, 21 August dismissed as "fabricated" an unsigned letter circulating on social media and purportedly detailing his role in decisions related to the construction and management of the temple complex in Ayodhya.

Speaking to reporters in Ayodhya, Misra said he had not seen the nine-page letter, which is attributed to former Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai, and accused the media of spreading falsehoods and attempting to create controversy.

"First of all, which letter?" Misra said when asked about the contents of the purported letter bearing Rai's name. "I have not seen any such letter and until I see the letter, I will only tell you (journalists) that perhaps this is a fabricated story of yours."

"Perhaps there is no such letter or such criticism, even if it is nine pages long. There has been no such criticism in it. These are only your fabricated things. You want to create a controversy everywhere and are presenting this before me only to create controversy," he said.

The digitally typed letter, dated 18 August and attributed to Rai, surfaced on social media on Thursday and was subsequently reported by several media outlets. PTI reported making repeated attempts on Thursday and Friday to contact Rai to establish whether he had written the letter, but there was no response.

The contents of the unsigned letter could not be independently verified, but it details Misra's role in the construction of the Ram temple, selection of agencies, decisions taken by the construction committee and management of the 70-acre temple complex.

It states that the trust has 15 trustees and that Misra was appointed chairman of the temple construction committee. According to the letter, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) was selected to construct the temple on Misra's suggestion, while Noida-based Design Associate was chosen for the design and construction of other buildings.

The letter further alleges that Misra brought "some persons of his interest" into the construction committee. It claims that one of them visited Ayodhya only once or twice in six years, while another was consulted on security-related matters.

Former NBCC (National Buildings Construction Corporation) chairman Anoop Mittal, according to the letter, regularly attended the committee's meetings with Misra. It says the construction committee met every month and, for a period, every 15 days, with "every decision" related to the temple's construction being taken by the committee. It also alleges that Misra "always considered himself the chief" for all construction-related decisions.

The letter credits Misra with overseeing the completion of the temple, stating that construction began in June 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic, and was completed by June this year.

It also describes Mittal as Misra's engineering adviser who prepared written material related to construction committee meetings. According to the letter, Mittal's son, civil engineer Yash Mittal, regularly attended the meetings and typed their proceedings on his laptop.

"The letter has several details that perhaps only Champat ji possibly knew of... we can't confirm the authenticity of the letter," a Vishwa Hindu Parishad functionary told PTI.

Rai, who is also a VHP vice-president, has become more active in Ayodhya after resigning as general-secretary of the trust amid the donation theft row. He has been meeting seers, some of whom are demanding his reinstatement following a 22 July meeting of seers from various groups, temples and mutts in Ayodhya.