Congress MPs Offer Prayers at Ayodhya Temple After Day-Long Standoff with Police

A delegation of Congress MPs from Uttar Pradesh, led by state unit chief Ajay Rai, offered prayers at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on Tuesday evening, following a tense face-off with the local administration that lasted most of the day.

Heavy police deployment around the temple complex had been in place since morning, as Congress leaders alleged they were being prevented from reaching the shrine. Delegation members, including Rai and four Lok Sabha MPs, claimed they were stopped on the way, confined to their homes, or detained by police. Rai said he was 'confined alone' in a guest house at Acharya Narendra Dev University and subjected to 'utter mental torture.' He insisted he would not leave without seeing Lord Ram.

The visit was scheduled amid allegations of embezzlement of donations made at the Ram Temple. Eight people have been arrested, and the Uttar Pradesh police are continuing their investigation. Opposition parties have called for a Supreme Court-monitored probe, alleging a lack of impartiality.

After offering prayers at Hanumangarhi and the temple, Rai told reporters, 'An impartial investigation is not happening. The functionaries of the Ram Temple must be investigated.' He also demanded that the temple trust be dissolved and that Shankaracharyas, seers, and Ayodhya residents be given representation in it.

The Congress delegation included Rai and four Lok Sabha MPs from Uttar Pradesh: Kishori Lal Sharma, Rakesh Rathore, Ujjwal Raman Singh, and Tanuj Punia. Congress workers across the state held protests against the police action, including demonstrations in Bhadohi, Varanasi, Moradabad, Lucknow, and Barabanki. A memorandum was submitted to the Uttar Pradesh Governor.

There was no official statement from the state government regarding the action against the Congress leaders.