At the end of a two-day meeting of RSS regional 'pracharaks' (outreach and communication leaders) in Karnataka's Belagavi, a Sangh statement said everyone expressed pain at the donation row and expressed confidence that the ongoing special investigation team (SIT) probe reaches a decisive conclusion.

"The Sangh expects Ram Mandir Trust to ensure that such incidents that hurt the faith of devotees towards the Ram Temple in Ayodhya are never repeated," RSS communications chief Sunil Ambekar said.

The meeting was led by Bhagwat and attended by RSS second-in-command Dattatreya Hosabale. Apart from them, 226 other RSS leaders were present.

They also took stock of the demographic imbalance on account of rising population.

Importantly, this is the first RSS meeting chaired by Bhagwat to express hurt and anguish over the theft issue.

Earlier, Hosabale had issued a video statement condemning the incident and calling for all culprits to be brought to book.

Ram Mandir Trust general secretary Champat Rai's resignation in the matter has already been accepted and the Trust is meeting again on July 20 to find Rai's permanent replacement.

In the interim, Krishna Mohan has been made general secretary of the Trust.

By July 20, the final report of the SIT, which was set up by the Uttar Pradesh Government, is also expected.