India deepens military-Hindutva nexus as Op Sindoor veteran gets Ram Temple Trust post
Islamabad: India has further blurred the distinction between its military establishment and Hindutva institutions with the appointment of retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra, who headed the Indian Air Force’s Western Air Command during “Operation Sindoor” in May 2025, as the first Chief Executive Officer of the Ram Temple Trust.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the trust, which manages the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, on Wednesday appointed Air Marshal Mishra as its first chief.
Air Marshal Mishra, who hails from Deoria, Uttar Pradesh, was the head of the Indian Air Force’s Western Air Command during “Operation Sindoor” in May 2025 — India’s military misadventure operation against Pakistan.
Mishra briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Adampur airbase following the operation. Under his command were key assets including Rafale and Sukhoi-30MKI jets, S-400 air defence systems, and BrahMos units deployed across occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and Punjab, suffered massive damage in response to Pakistan’s counter strikes.
The appointment comes amid a donation theft scandal at the Trust. The Trust said it selected Mishra from 5,585 applicants through an “AI-assisted” process. The CEO will now serve as the highest executive authority for the temple’s administration and expansion.
Analysts note this is the latest instance of senior Indian military officers being absorbed directly into Hindutva management structures. The Western Air Command, previously led by Mishra, oversees airbases at Srinagar and Leh, giving him direct operational experience in the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
