IIT-Bombay Alumnus Jagdish Aphale Appointed Ram Temple Trust Secretary

Jagdish Aphale, a senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) functionary and engineer, has been appointed as the first secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The appointment was approved by the Trust on Wednesday and will be formally ratified at its executive committee meeting scheduled for September 2.

Aphale is an IIT Bombay alumnus with an academic background in engineering, holding a BTech in Electrical Engineering and an MTech degree. He has worked as a project manager during his long professional career and has experience working with several multinational companies on assignments across Europe and the United States.

Before returning to India after retirement, Aphale played a major role in the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, serving as part of the core engineering team responsible for executing the project from its foundation to the superstructure. He has been associated with the RSS for several years and is regarded as one of its senior functionaries.

The appointment comes amid the ongoing controversy over the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple. The Trust recently created the post of secretary following the alleged donation theft row that triggered a political controversy. As secretary, Aphale will oversee the day-to-day functioning of the Trust and report to interim General Secretary Krishna Mohan while serving as an office-bearer.

The Supreme Court has taken note of the Uttar Pradesh government's decision to constitute a four-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate allegations of embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple. The court has directed the state government to include a forensic auditor in the probe team to ensure greater transparency and has asked the SIT to submit a status report within two weeks.

The appointment of Aphale as the first secretary of the Trust is seen as a move to strengthen the temple's day-to-day administration. The Trust has been facing criticism over the alleged embezzlement of donations, and the appointment of a senior RSS functionary is expected to bring in more transparency and accountability.

The Ram Temple in Ayodhya has been at the center of a long-standing controversy, with the Supreme Court ruling in favor of the construction of the temple in 2019. The temple is expected to be completed by 2024, and the appointment of Aphale as the first secretary of the Trust is seen as a significant development in the project.

The controversy over the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple has sparked a political row, with opposition parties criticizing the government for its handling of the issue. The appointment of Aphale as the first secretary of the Trust is expected to bring in more transparency and accountability, and the Supreme Court's monitoring of the probe is seen as a significant development in the case.

In conclusion, the appointment of Jagdish Aphale as the first secretary of the Ayodhya Ram Temple Trust is a significant development in the project. The move is expected to bring in more transparency and accountability, and the Supreme Court's monitoring of the probe is seen as a positive step towards ensuring that the allegations of embezzlement are investigated thoroughly.