Congress delegation to visit Ayodhya Ram Temple amid donation row
The Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee has decided to send a nine-member delegation to offer prayers at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on Tuesday, amidst an ongoing political controversy over alleged irregularities in donations at the temple. The visit is seen as an attempt by the Congress to engage with faith while also targeting the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the issue.
The delegation includes state Congress president Ajay Rai, MPs Kishori Lal Sharma (Amethi), Rakesh Rathore (Sitapur), Ujjwal Raman Singh (Prayagraj), and Tanuj Punia (Barabanki), MLA Virendra Chaudhary (Pharenda), former MP A P Gautam, former MLC Deepak Singh, and former MLA Meeta Gautam. According to a party letter, the delegation will leave Lucknow at 9 am and reach Ayodhya around 11 am to offer prayers at the temple and pray for public welfare.
A senior Congress leader, who is part of the delegation, told The Indian Express that the visit should not be viewed solely through a political lens. "Congress leaders have visited Ayodhya and offered prayers to Lord Ram in the past, as well. We are simply going to offer prayers like any other devotee," the leader said.
However, party sources indicated that senior leaders are likely to raise the issue of alleged misappropriation of temple donations after offering prayers. The Congress plans to target the BJP over the alleged theft and demand greater transparency and accountability in the management of offerings made at the Ram Temple.
The visit comes amid an intense political row between the ruling BJP and opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh. The Samajwadi Party, led by its chief Akhilesh Yadav, has been the most vocal opposition voice on the issue, repeatedly targeting the BJP government over the alleged donation irregularities.
This Ayodhya visit marks the Congress party's first organised political intervention in the controversy, signalling that the party intends to make the issue a political talking point ahead of the upcoming state elections. The delegation's actions and statements will be closely watched as the temple donation row continues to unfold.
