CPI Kerala Alleges Massive Financial Irregularities at Ayodhya Ram Temple
The Communist Party of India (CPI) in Kerala has launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging a major scam involving donations made to the Ram temple in Ayodhya. CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran and other leaders accused the BJP of siphoning off funds meant for the temple construction and misappropriating precious metal offerings from devotees.
Rs 1,400 Crore Allegedly Misappropriated
Speaking at a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram, CPI leader Pannyan Raveendran, quoting party colleague and former MP C. Divakaran, claimed that Rs 1,400 crore had been siphoned off from the temple fund. “The BJP is running a scam in the name of Lord Ram,” Raveendran said. He further alleged that gold and silver offerings made by devotees had also gone missing, indicating a larger conspiracy to defraud the temple trust.
BJP Denies Allegations
The BJP has dismissed the allegations as baseless and politically motivated. State BJP president K. Surendran challenged the CPI to provide evidence, stating that the temple construction is being carried out transparently under the supervision of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. “These are false accusations to divert attention from the BJP’s development work,” Surendran said.
Political Fallout in Kerala
The CPI’s allegations have sparked a political row in Kerala, with the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) trading barbs. The CPI is a key ally of the LDF, and the party’s strong stance against the BJP on the Ayodhya issue is seen as an attempt to consolidate secular votes ahead of local body elections.
The controversy also highlights the ongoing tensions between the BJP and Left parties over the Ram temple, which the BJP considers a symbol of national pride. The CPI has vowed to raise the issue in Parliament and demand a high-level probe into the alleged scam.
