VHP Seeks Police Summons for Opposition Leaders in Ayodhya Temple Donation Theft Allegations

The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has asked the investigating officer in the Ayodhya Ram Temple donation theft case to summon several Opposition leaders who have publicly alleged irregularities. The Congress party has criticised the move, accusing the VHP and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of trying to divert attention from the investigation.

In a letter dated July 4, VHP international president Alok Kumar wrote to Ayodhya Deputy Superintendent of Police Ashutosh Tiwari, requesting that leaders such as Congress's Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav and Ram Gopal Yadav, Aam Aadmi Party's Arvind Kejriwal and Sanjay Singh be asked to provide evidence for their claims. The leaders have alleged that offerings at the Ram Temple, including gold, silver, diamonds and cash, have been stolen.

Kumar's letter cited specific statements: Ram Gopal Yadav alleged a scam worth over Rs 20,000 crore; Kejriwal claimed valuables like Lord Ram's ornaments and cash were stolen; Sanjay Singh alleged theft worth over Rs 200 crore and submitted documents to the Special Investigation Team; Priyanka Gandhi Vadra questioned whether lower-level employees alone could have orchestrated the theft after CCTV cameras were switched off.

Kumar urged the officer to summon the leaders or record their statements to disclose the basis of their allegations and any supporting evidence. He said that if the allegations were baseless, the agency could consider legal action under the law.

Reacting to the letter, Congress leader Pawan Khera said on Sunday that fresh allegations and evidence were emerging daily. He questioned why Opposition leaders were being asked to provide proof instead of the investigating agencies identifying the accused. 'Does that mean someone else commits the theft, and someone else provides the evidence?' Khera said in a video shared on X. He alleged that the real intention was not to catch the thieves but to emotionally manipulate Hindu society.

The case involves allegations of misappropriation of donations made by devotees to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The Uttar Pradesh Police is investigating the matter. The VHP's letter seeks cooperation from Opposition leaders to aid the investigation, while the Congress views it as an attempt to silence critics.