LUCKNOW: All India Panchramanadiya Nirmohi Akhara, one of the main litigants in Ram Janambhoomi -Babri Masjid title suit pending before the special bench of Supreme Court, is caught in an intense battle of supremacy over the selection of next chief Mahant after the demise of Mahant Dharam Das last month. Mahant Dharam Das was the chief Mahant of Nirmohi Akhara and also the chief claimant of Ram Janmabhoomi title.
The council of Akhara, which met on Tuesday to elect the new chief Mahant, was seen divided over the issue. While Mahant Raja Ramchandracharya Dakor of Gujarat was named as the new chief Mahant and Mahant Narsingh Das of Chitrakoot his junior (vice- Mahant), the meeting witnessed heated exchanges among seers as priest Ram Das of Hanuman Garhi made a claim to the position of Akhara's chief Mahant and subsequently the chief litigant in Ayodhya title suit.
Priest Ram Das had been pursuing the case in the apex court on behalf of Mahant Dharam Das owing to his old age. Ram Das, who was appointed the chief priest of Hanuman Garhi (a religious property owned by Akahara) after Dharam Das's demise, even threatened the Akhara members to challenge the council decision in a court of law.
On the contrary, Mahant Dinendra Das, also of Gujarat, who presided over the Akhara council's general body meeting in Faizabad said: "Since chief Mahant of Nirmohi Akhara Bhaskar Das was a litigant in Ram Janambhoomi case, the newly elected of chief Mahant RajaRamchandracharya will automatically acquire that status and represent the Akhara in future hearings."
He admitted that priest Ram Das had been perusing the case on behalf of chief Mahant Bhaskar Das and that he wanted to continue as litigant, "but now that responsibility will be shouldered by the new chief Mahant and priest Ram Das has no right the peruse the case," clarified Mahant Dinendra Das.
The fight assumes significance as the new chief Mahant of Akhara would not only become the main litigant in the historical title suit for Ram Janmabhoomi but it would also make him the natural custodian of all the properties of Akhara across the country and the revenue generated therein.
Priest Ram Das created a flutter by putting forth the Power of Attorney of late Dharma Das according to which, he claimed, all the revenue properties of Akhara should be transferred in his name. However, the so-called Power of Attorney was not signed by the late chief Mahant instead had a thumb impression allegedly of Dharam Das.
This agitated the seers present in the council meeting and they disputed it saying that the late chief Mahant used to sign all the papers, why would he put a thumb on the document.
Meanwhile, talking to TNIE, priest Ram Das claimed that his guru Mahant Dahram Das had nominated him as his successor and that he had the right to represent him in Supreme Court.
While Priest Ram Das was crying foul alleging the council members of conniving against him, Mahant Dinendra Das asserted that Ram Das was made the chief priest of Hanuman Garhi temple respecting the wish and directives of late Mahant Dharam Das on September 28, 2017. He hinted at his removal from his current position if he failed to mend ways.