Congress demands Supreme Court probe into Ram Mandir donation theft allegations

The Congress party escalated its attack on the government on Friday by holding multiple press conferences across the country, alleging embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Senior party leaders addressed the media in Jammu, Lucknow, Chennai, Punjab, Haryana, and Uttarakhand, demanding a Supreme Court-monitored investigation into the matter.

Rajya Sabha MP Pawan Khera spoke in Jammu, while Lok Sabha MP Deepender Hooda addressed presspersons in Lucknow. Rajeev Gowda, head of the All India Congress Committee’s Research Department, held a press conference in Chennai, and social media head Supriya Shrinate raised the issue in Punjab. Senior leader Shaktisinh Gohil also addressed the media in Haryana.

In Uttarakhand, Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the alleged theft of offerings and donations at the Ram Temple. He said that for several years, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) have been collecting donations in the name of the Ram Mandir, and the trust authority has misappropriated money, gold, and other offerings.

“I have just one question: who is responsible for the theft of donations? The Ram Temple Trust was formed under the supervision of the Prime Minister [Narendra Modi]. Why is he silent on this issue?” Mr. Venugopal said, demanding an investigation under the supervision of the Supreme Court. He added that the Congress party would raise the matter prominently in the Monsoon Session of Parliament.

Mr. Venugopal was in Uttarakhand to review the party’s preparedness for the Assembly elections scheduled for early next year. The Ram Temple trust has not yet publicly responded to the allegations.