Congress Demands Arrest of Champat Rai, Apology from PM Over Ram Temple Donation Allegations
The Congress party on Wednesday demanded the immediate arrest of former Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai and sought an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the alleged mishandling of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
Senior Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil, addressing a press conference in New Delhi, reiterated the party's call for a Supreme Court-monitored investigation into the alleged irregularities. He also demanded the dissolution of the current Trust and its replacement with a new body comprising Shankaracharyas, a retired Supreme Court judge, representatives of the Nirmohi Akhara, and other religious figures.
Gohil claimed that before the alleged theft of donations came to light, daily collections at the temple were between ₹16 lakh and ₹18 lakh, which later rose to ₹24 lakh to ₹26 lakh per day after the issue became public. He suggested that this discrepancy indicated a possible misappropriation of around ₹10 lakh per day.
The Congress leader emphasised that crores of devotees had contributed to the temple construction in good faith, and the Trust had failed to make proper accounts public. He described the temple as a matter of faith and said any financial irregularity could not be tolerated.
Gohil also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of seeking political mileage from the temple and disregarding the views of Shankaracharyas, who had objected to the timing of the consecration ceremony.
The Congress's fresh attack came after the Trust on Monday accepted the resignations of Rai as general secretary and Anil Mishra as a member in the wake of the donation row. Trustee Krishna Mohan has been appointed interim general secretary. The Trust also announced a three-member search committee to appoint a chief executive officer and promised to overhaul the donation system to restore confidence.
Later, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh sharpened the attack, saying on social media platform X that Prime Minister Modi had taken credit for the temple but was now shying away from responsibility. He demanded dissolution of the Trust, arrest of culprits, a Supreme Court-monitored investigation, formation of a new Trust, and an apology to the nation, urging Modi to break his silence.
