Congress alleges PM Modi responsible for Ram Temple donation theft
The Congress party on Wednesday escalated its attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the alleged theft of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, demanding the dissolution of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and a Supreme Court-monitored investigation. Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters, Congress spokesperson Shakti Singh Gohil argued that the Prime Minister could not evade responsibility because the Trust members were appointed under his watch.
Demands for immediate action against Trust officials
Gohil called for the immediate arrest of former Trust general secretary Champat Rai and the constitution of a fresh Trust comprising Shankaracharyas and saints. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh echoed the demand, urging the Prime Minister to break his silence, noting that he had taken credit for the temple's construction but was now avoiding responsibility over the alleged theft of devotees' donations.
Allegations of handpicked appointments and CCTV evidence
Gohil alleged that despite objections from religious leaders, the Prime Minister handpicked Trust members, including Champat Rai, and thus could not disown responsibility. He claimed that CCTV footage from the temple between April 27 and June 5 this year captured around 70 instances of alleged theft. Audit reports for 2023–2025 flagged thefts, system deficiencies, and missing CCTV cameras at key locations, but no corrective action was taken, according to Gohil.
Financial irregularities flagged by Congress
Questioning the Trust's financial decisions, Gohil referred to the purchase of a piece of land for Rs 18 crore that originally had been valued at Rs 2.93 crore. He claimed that had the Trust acted earlier, the controversy could have been avoided. He also noted that keys to temple donation boxes were reportedly handed over to Champat Rai's driver, warranting immediate criminal action.
Recruitment process and donation patterns questioned
Gohil questioned the recruitment process for temple staff, alleging that the FIR filed by the Special Investigation Team listed accused without details such as fathers' names or addresses, raising doubts about employee verification. He claimed that after the FIR was registered, daily donations rose from around Rs 16–18 lakh to Rs 24–26 lakh, suggesting that nearly Rs 10 lakh was allegedly being siphoned off daily before the case came to light.
Congress accuses BJP and RSS of exploiting temple for politics
The Congress also accused the BJP and the RSS of exploiting the Ram Temple for political purposes. Gohil alleged that religious leaders who expressed reservations about the consecration ceremony were ignored, and the event was advanced for electoral considerations. He claimed the BJP invoked Lord Ram for political gains rather than out of religious commitment.
