Archive · 3 Sep 2026
BJP Attacks Congress Over Veteran’s Ram Temple CEO Appointment
Jeetendra Mishra, a retired Air Force officer, has been appointed the first CEO of the Ram Temple.
The BJP says his military experience makes the appointment honorable and important.
BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari criticized Congress for questioning the decision.
He said the criticism showed disrespect toward India’s armed forces.
Congress asked why a military officer was needed to manage a religious institution.
Some critics also connected the appointment to allegations involving temple donations and theft.
Bhandari separately accused Punjab’s government of corruption and said audio recordings supported his claims.
The article reports these accusations but does not establish them as proven facts.
The BJP defended Air Marshal (Retd) Jeetendra Mishra’s appointment as the Ram Temple’s first CEO.
BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari accused Congress of displaying an “anti-Army” mindset by questioning the appointment.
Congress questioned why a military veteran was chosen to manage religious affairs at the Ayodhya temple.
Some critics suggested the appointment could be intended to divert attention from alleged theft and donation controversies.
Bhandari also accused Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s government of corruption and presented audio recordings as alleged evidence.
- Who
- The BJP, Congress, Air Marshal (Retd) Jeetendra Mishra, and BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari are central to the dispute.
- What
- The BJP criticized Congress for questioning Mishra’s appointment as the Ram Temple’s first CEO.
- When
- The statements were made on Thursday; the article does not provide a calendar date.
- Where
- The dispute concerns the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, while Bhandari made his remarks at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi.
- Why
- The BJP said Congress’s questions reflected hostility toward the armed forces, while Congress questioned the purpose of appointing a military veteran to oversee the temple’s religious affairs.
Congress and Critics
BJP and Supporters
Purpose of the appointment
Congress and Critics
Congress questioned why an armed forces veteran was selected to manage religious affairs at the Ayodhya temple.
BJP and Supporters
The BJP welcomed the appointment, saying Mishra’s service and leadership experience made it a matter of national pride.
Alleged motivation
Congress and Critics
Some critics suggested the appointment could be intended to divert attention from alleged theft and donation controversies.
BJP and Supporters
The BJP rejected such insinuations as baseless and said they reflected hostility toward the armed forces.
Political and military views
Congress and Critics
Congress’s questioning was presented by the BJP as part of a broader pattern of criticism of military figures.
BJP and Supporters
The BJP argued that the appointment demonstrated respect for India’s armed forces under the Narendra Modi-led government.
- Appointee
- Air Marshal (Retd) Jeetendra Mishra
- New role
- First Chief Executive Officer of the Ram Temple
- Military background
- Mishra commanded forces during Operation Sindoor, according to the article.
- BJP spokesperson
- Pradeep Bhandari defended the appointment and criticized Congress.
- Congress position
- Congress questioned the rationale for appointing an armed forces veteran to manage temple affairs.
- Additional allegation
- Bhandari accused the Bhagwant Mann government in Punjab of corruption and presented audio recordings as alleged corroboration.