Panaji: The Congress on Sunday demanded a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the alleged theft of donations from the Ayodhya Ram Temple and a statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Parliament during the upcoming Monsoon Session.
Addressing a press conference in Panaji, senior party leader Rajani Patil also called for a comprehensive audit of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, terming the matter a “betrayal” of the faith of millions of devotees across the country.
The Congress leader said that India government could not distance itself from the controversy, claiming that the temple trust was constituted under the supervision of the PM following the Supreme Court’s 2019 verdict in the Ayodhya title dispute.
“Millions of people from every corner of the country contributed their hard-earned money for the construction of the temple. Any misuse of those donations is not just a financial scam, it is a betrayal of the faith and emotions of crores of devotees,” Patil said.
Referring to reports of alleged donation theft amounting to around ₹80 lakhs, she alleged that it could actually run into crores of rupees.
“This cannot be dismissed as an isolated incident involving a few employees. If there is an impartial investigation, bigger names will emerge,” she alleged.
The former MP said the ruling party could not claim credit for the construction of the Ram temple while refusing to accept accountability over allegations concerning its administration.
“For years, the BJP projected the Ram temple as its achievement. If the BJP says it brought Lord Ram and built the temple, then it must also accept responsibility for what happens in the trust managing the temple,” she said.
She also accused the BJP, RSS and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of collecting donations for the temple and alleged that the organisations owed an explanation to the public over the alleged irregularities.
Patil said the Congress wanted the issue to be discussed in Parliament and urged the PM and Home Minister to make a detailed statement before both Houses.
The Congress wants a full-fledged investigation under the supervision of a Supreme Court judge to ensure impartiality and public confidence, she said.
She also demanded registration of an FIR against all those allegedly involved, irrespective of their status or position, besides a forensic audit of the trust’s books for the last five years.
Questioning the reported resignations of trust functionaries Champat Rai and Aditya Mishra, Patil asked why they had stepped down if there had been no wrongdoing.
“If everyone has clean hands, then what is the objection to a Supreme Court-monitored investigation? Let the truth come out through an independent inquiry,” she said.