Congress Chief Alleges BJP, RSS 'Looted' Ram Temple Donations

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president B.K. Hariprasad on Wednesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of misappropriating donations collected for the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Speaking at a seminar organised by the KPCC campaign committee in Bengaluru, Hariprasad alleged that the two organisations had 'looted' the contributions.

Hariprasad, a senior Congress leader, drew a historical parallel, stating, 'History tells us that Mahmud of Ghazni plundered this country several times. But those who have looted temples today are the RSS and the BJP. They deceive people in the name of religion and God.' He emphasised that his criticism was rooted in his identity as a proud Hindu, following the inclusive teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, Swami Vivekananda, Narayana Guru, Kanakadasa, and Basavanna, rather than the ideology of RSS figures like M.S. Golwalkar, Nathuram Godse, and K.B. Hedgewar.

The KPCC chief asserted that his conception of Hinduism champions equality and harmony among all faiths, and that secularism means mutual respect among religions. He accused the BJP and RSS of attempting to erode India's diversity through concepts like 'one nation, one education, one leader and one religion.'

Hariprasad clarified that the Congress party would have no objection to the RSS if it accepted the Constitution, the national flag, democracy, and Gandhi's philosophy of equal respect for all religions. 'They are not our enemies; they are our fellow countrymen. But if they accept these foundational principles, we will not oppose them,' he said.

Turning to upcoming civic elections in Bengaluru, Hariprasad urged Congress workers to study the background of BJP leader Ram Madhav, who is overseeing the party's campaign. He alleged that the BJP diverts attention from governance issues by raising topics like Pakistan, halal, hijab, and mangalsutra, and questioned Madhav's reported meetings with Pakistani leaders.

Hariprasad also criticised the central government over Operation Sindoor, claiming contradictory statements about soldier casualties. 'The government initially said no soldier died, but Defence Minister Rajnath Singh later paid tribute to six soldiers. This raises serious questions about credibility,' he said.