The controversy surrounding alleged misappropriation of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya has significantly affected local businesses and the number of devotees visiting the holy city. Vendors in Ayodhya reported a drastic decrease in the number of devotees, impacting their businesses. Previously, around five to six lakh devotees used to visit Hanumangarhi and the Ram Temple daily, but now the count has dropped to between 50,000 to one lakh.
The sentiments of many devotees have been hurt due to the incident, leading to a decline in the number of visitors from outside the city. Local vendors expressed concerns about the impact on their businesses, with fewer people from other states visiting Ayodhya. The acceptance of resignations of key figures from the trust managing the temple was welcomed by some vendors, who hope for effective governance from the new team.
The police in Ayodhya have taken action in the Ram Temple donation theft case by seeking custody of three accused individuals. Significant amounts of cash were recovered from these individuals, and the police aim to gather crucial information related to their bank accounts. Investigators suspect that a portion of the stolen funds might have been used for purchasing goods, and they are tracing the financial trail linked to the recovered money.
