Ram temple donation controversy deepens as Indian opposition demands judicial probe
New Delhi: Allegations of misappropriation of nearly Rs 2 billion in donations collected for the controversial Ram Temple built at the site of the demolished Babri Mosque in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, have sparked a major political row, with opposition parties demanding a transparent and independent investigation into the matter.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the historic Babri Mosque, constructed in 1528 during the reign of Mughal Emperor Zahir-ud-DinMuhammad Babur, was demolished by Hindu extremists on December 6, 1992.
Indian media reports said several opposition leaders have alleged large-scale irregularities in the management and utilization of donations and offerings made to the Ram Temple, claiming that up to Rs 2 billion may have been embezzled. They described the alleged misappropriation as a betrayal of the trust and religious sentiments of millions of devotees.
Despite the seriousness of the allegations, neither the temple administration nor the authorities concerned have so far issued any detailed response.
The BJP government in Uttar Pradesh has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter. Reports said the team has already submitted a preliminary report to the state government after examining donation records, cash-counting mechanisms and other financial transactions linked to the temple.
It is pertinent to mention that the demolition of the Babri Mosque on December 6, 1992, sparked widespread communal violence across India in which more than 2,000 Muslims were killed and thousands injured.
A commission of inquiry report submitted in 2009 held 68 individuals, including senior BJP leaders, responsible for the demolition and concluded that the destruction of the mosque had been planned months in advance by the BJP, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).
However, on November 9, 2019, the Indian Supreme Court handed over the disputed land for the construction of the Ram Temple, paving the way for the temple’s construction at the site where the Babri Mosque once stood.
