Opposition Rejects VHP's Demand for Questioning Leaders
The Opposition on Sunday pushed back against the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) after its international president Alok Kumar wrote to the investigating officer seeking that Opposition leaders be questioned in the Ram Temple donation case. The Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alleged that the BJP-RSS ecosystem was trying to divert attention from the allegations instead of addressing them.
Congress Demands Supreme Court-Monitored Probe
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh alleged that donations worth thousands of crores meant for the Ram Temple had been misappropriated. He called for an inquiry by a sitting Supreme Court judge, emphasizing that those responsible should face the strictest action. Ramesh questioned the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, noting that Modi had associated himself with the temple's construction and inauguration ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and could not remain silent on the donation allegations. He also pointed out that the Home Minister had not responded to the controversy.
Allegations of Systematic Diversion of Funds
Describing the alleged diversion of donations as another instance of “vote chori, seat chori and chanda chori,” Ramesh claimed the BJP had a pattern of benefiting politically and financially through such practices. Referring to the electoral bonds scheme, he alleged that raising funds in exchange for favours had become part of the party’s functioning. He also questioned the RSS’s response, saying it was difficult to believe that the organisation was unaware of the functioning of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
The Opposition's strong reaction underscores the political sensitivity of the case, with the Congress and AAP accusing the ruling party of using diversionary tactics to avoid accountability. The demand for a Supreme Court-monitored probe reflects the seriousness of the allegations, which involve funds collected from devotees across the country.
