The Congress on Saturday intensified its criticism of the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh over alleged irregularities in donations related to the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the issue and demanding the arrest of trust members facing allegations.
Addressing a press conference in the national capital, senior Congress leader Akhilesh Pratap Singh said devotees across the country, particularly followers of Sanatan Dharma, were seeking answers over the alleged misuse of donations collected for the temple.
“The entire nation, especially those who have deep faith in Sanatan Dharma, wants to know who misappropriated donations worth thousands of crores of rupees,” Singh said, reiterating the party’s demand for a comprehensive and impartial investigation.
The Congress leader demanded the dissolution of the trust managing the Ram Mandir, alleging that it had failed to discharge its responsibilities. He also called for the arrest of all individuals who, according to him, appeared to be prima facie linked to the alleged irregularities.
Questioning the Prime Minister’s silence, Singh said Modi had been closely associated with the Ram Mandir project and had visited the temple on several occasions. He added that the trust was constituted under the Modi government and that those entrusted with managing the temple’s affairs were appointed under its supervision.
“When serious allegations are being raised against those given this responsibility, why is the Prime Minister silent?” Singh asked.
He alleged that concerns over corruption had emerged from the early stages of the temple project. Referring to earlier controversies, he claimed there were alleged irregularities in land acquisitions connected with the Ram Temple project and alleged that such issues continued during the temple’s development.
Singh further claimed that the trust had initiated inquiries into allegations of irregularities but failed to act on the findings and recommendations of the agencies involved.
Raising specific concerns, he referred to Mahipal Singh, a cash-counting agent, alleging that he was removed after raising objections over alleged discrepancies. He also alleged that CCTV cameras were removed and related footage deleted.
Accusing the authorities of failing to ensure an independent investigation, the Congress leader demanded that the matter be examined under the direct supervision of a sitting Supreme Court judge.
“The trust managing the Ram Mandir has lost the confidence of the people and should be disbanded,” he said.
Drawing a comparison with investigations involving opposition leaders, Singh alleged that central agencies such as the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate acted swiftly against political opponents, while those allegedly linked to the Ram Mandir donation controversy had not faced similar action despite, he claimed, sufficient grounds for investigation.
He also claimed that public confidence had been affected by the allegations, asserting that daily donations to the temple had reportedly declined from around Rs 10 lakh-Rs 15 lakh to nearly Rs 80,000.
The Ram Mandir, inaugurated earlier this year, remains one of the BJP’s most prominent political and cultural initiatives. While the Congress has repeatedly raised questions over alleged irregularities connected with the project, the BJP has rejected the allegations and accused the opposition of politicising an issue of faith.