Congress links PM Modi to embezzlement in Ram Temple donations
New Delhi : The Congress has sought to hold Prime Minister Narendra Modi politically accountable for theft of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and demanded dissolution of the Ram Temple Trust.
According to Kashmir Media Service, addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Congress spokesperson Shakti Singh Gohil said that Trust members including former general secretary Champat Rai were appointed under the Prime Minister’s watch and therefore he could not evade responsibility. Gohil demanded the immediate arrest of Rai, a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the irregularities, and constitution of a new Trust comprising Shankaracharyas and saints.
Citing CCTV footage and audit reports for 2023-2025, Gohil claimed around 70 instances of donation theft were recorded between April 27 and June 5 this year. He said deficiencies in the system, absence of CCTV cameras at key points, and no corrective action by the Trust. He also questioned the purchase of land for Rs 18 crore which was originally valued at Rs 2.93 crore.
The Congress leader further said that keys of donation boxes were handed to Rai’s driver and that proper verification of temple staff was not done. He claimed daily donations rose from Rs 16-18 lakh to Rs 24-26 lakh after an FIR was registered, suggesting nearly Rs 10 lakh was siphoned off daily earlier.
Echoing the demand, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh asked the Prime Minister to break his silence, saying he had taken credit for the temple’s construction but was avoiding accountability now.
The party also said the BJP and RSS is exploiting the Ram Temple for political purposes. Gohil said that religious leaders who opposed the consecration date were ignored and the event was advanced for electoral gains.
