The Congress party has launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) over allegations of a large-scale theft of funds from the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh claimed that the 'betrayal of faith' is being perpetrated under the patronage of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
SIT Admits Daily Loss of Lakhs
Ramesh pointed out that even the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which was constituted ostensibly to resolve the matter, has been forced to acknowledge the daily disappearance of lakhs of rupees in offerings. The SIT's admission has further fueled the controversy surrounding the management of the temple's finances.
Congress Demands Accountability
The Congress party has called for a thorough investigation into the alleged misappropriation of funds. Ramesh emphasized that the temple is a symbol of faith for millions of Hindus and that any wrongdoing must be dealt with severely. He also questioned the role of the temple trust and the state government in overseeing the collection and utilization of donations.
According to sources, the SIT has been monitoring the temple's income from offerings, which reportedly runs into crores of rupees annually. However, discrepancies in the accounts have raised suspicions of embezzlement by individuals linked to the temple administration.
BJP-RSS Deny Allegations
The BJP and RSS have denied any wrongdoing, calling the Congress allegations baseless. They have accused the opposition party of trying to politicize a religious matter. The temple trust has also dismissed the claims, stating that all funds are accounted for and used for the temple's development and charitable activities.
Despite these denials, the Congress has demanded a parliamentary inquiry into the matter. Ramesh stated, 'The faith of the people has been betrayed, and those responsible must be brought to book.'
