New Delhi: The Congress on Tuesday sharpened its attack on the BJP and RSS over the alleged theft of offerings at the Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, calling it a betrayal of the faith of crores of devotees and demanding a probe by a sitting judge of the Allahabad High Court.
Addressing the issue in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai and Congress Legislature Party leader Aradhana Mishra alleged that the matter reflected organised corruption in the name of religion. They demanded a time bound investigation and strict action against those found guilty.
Ajay Rai said the Congress had no faith in the Special Investigation Team set up by the Uttar Pradesh government. He questioned the appointment of Vijay Vishwas Pant in the probe, saying Pant was the commissioner during the stampede at the Allahabad Maha Kumbh and was himself linked to an inquiry related to that incident. Rai alleged that the SIT probe appeared to be an attempt at formality and cover up. He demanded that the SIT report be made public within one week.
Rai also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying retired bureaucrat Nripendra Misra, who served as Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister for more than five years, was made chairman of the Shri Ram Temple Construction Committee. He further referred to names such as Gopal Rao, Champat Rai and Anil Mishra while alleging that people with RSS backgrounds were given positions in the trust.
The Congress leader alleged that more than ₹1,400 crore was involved in irregularities, citing media reports. He claimed that money had earlier been collected in the name of Shila Pujan without proper accounting. He also alleged that land bought at lower prices was later sold to the trust at much higher rates. Rai cited an example where, according to him, land worth ₹2 crore was sold to the trust for ₹18.5 crore.
He further claimed that nearly ₹200 crore in temple offerings had come under question and said money donated by women and devotees had been misused.
Aradhana Mishra also accused the BJP of betraying those who have faith in Sanatan traditions and Lord Ram. She alleged that during land acquisition for the temple, relatives of a local mayor bought land at low rates and sold it to the trust for crores. She also claimed that Army land near the temple was denotified and handed over to large industrialists.
Mishra referred to earlier reports of a main road sinking after the first rainfall and water leakage from the sanctum roof. She also alleged that around 1,250 historic Shri Ram Shilas had gone missing from the premises.
The allegations have added a political edge to the controversy around the temple trust and its handling of donations and assets. The next focus will be on the SIT findings and whether the state government makes the probe report public.