Ayodhya Ram Temple Trust embroiled in media ban and priest calls for local control

The administration in Ayodhya has imposed a strict rule that any media coverage outside the Ram Temple complex now requires prior permission from the senior police (SP) of security. Reporters who attempt to film without clearance are being removed from the area. The Uttar Pradesh Congress party criticised the move, saying it limits transparency and the media’s role in a democracy.

Local priests and spiritual leaders have also demanded that the management of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust be handed over to local saints and spiritual gurus. They allege misconduct by current trust officials, stating that “the trust’s current officials have hurt the faith of devotees.” The priests call for the formation of a new trust composed of respected local religious figures to oversee the temple’s affairs.

Both developments arise amid a broader controversy over alleged irregularities in the handling of donations to the Ram Temple project, intensifying political and religious tensions in the region.